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the 



STATE OF INDIANA 


W. A. GUTHRIE, Chairman. 
STANLEY COULTER. 

JOHN W. HOLTZMAN. 

RICHARD M. HOLMAN, Secretary. 



PUBLICATION No. 8 


RICHARD LIEBER, Director. 

























THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION 
DIVISION OF GEOLOGY 


Petroleum and Natural Gas 

IN INDIANA 


A PRELIMINARY REPORT 

By 

W. N. LOGAN, Ph. D. 

STATE GEOLOGIST 


1920 



•> ) 
> i > 



FORT WAYNE PRINTING COMPANY . 
CONTRACTORS FOR INDIANA STATE PRINTING AND BINDING 
FORT WAYNE. INDIANA 

1920 



GEOLOGICAL CORPS 


i N?7a 
• X (o L <0 


W. N. Logan, Ph. D., State Geologist.Economic Geology 

E. R. Cummings, Ph. D...Stratigraphy and Paleontology 

C. A. Malott, Ph. D..1.Topography and Glaciology 

S. S. Visher, Ph. D....'...Geography and Hydrology 

J. R. Reeves.Laboratory Assistant and Draftsman 

H. W. Legge..Preparator 


Office Division 


B. J. Malott, A. B ..Asst. Geologist and Supervisor Nat. Gas 

A. J. Coleman.Curator of Museum 

Alice O’Connor.Stenographer 


Field Division, 1919 


W. N. Logan 
C. A. Malott 
S. S. Visher 
P. B. Stockdale 
J. R. Reeves 


O. H. Hughes 
Willis Richardson 
G. A. Lee 
Fred. Call 
Ted Jean 


LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

^E^EIVED 

FEB 1 7 1921 

DOCUMENTS DIVISION 



( 2 ) 















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PREFACE 


The petroleum and natural gas industry of Indiana bears such an 
important relation to the industrial development of the State that any 
reasonable expenditure of funds is warranted in the furtherance of its 
development. Much of the field work necessary in the preparation of this 
report was accomplished with very little expense to the State as it was 
done in connection with other geological work by the University of 
Indiana, but it serves as an example of what may be accomplished when¬ 
ever adequate funds are available. 

The following report on the petroleum and natural gas resources of 
Indiana was prepared as a portion of a more comprehensive publication on 
the Geology of the State but the size of the report and the demand for the 
information contained in it combine to make it desirable to issue it as a 
separate publication and to give it a wider distribution than may be 
demanded of the complete report. 

The undersigned deems it his duty to call attention to the scientific 
value of this publication. All credit must go to the author, Dr. Logan, and 
his staff, for painstaking thoroughness in its preparation with the idea of 
publishing all available authentic material on Indiana’s oil and gas 
resources. 

The great amount of work accomplished by the Division of Geology with 
limited funds is largely due to the plan of co-operation with Indiana 
university whereby the Division has the use of laboratory and library 
facilities which cannot be duplicated, if duplication be at all desirable, 
except at great cost, and also the assistance without additional expense of 
trained specialists in the various divisions of Geological Science. The 
University, by this co-operation is contributing invaluable assistance in 
working out the economic geology of Indiana. 

RICHARD LIEBER, 

Director of the Department of Conservation. 
Indianapolis, January, 1920. 


( 3 ) 


TABLE OF CONTENTS 


Page 


Chapter I. Introduction. 10 

Acknowledgements . 13 

Bibliography *. 13 


Chapter II. Petroleum: Properties and Origin. 14 

Definition . 14 

Composition . 14 

Odor . 14 

Density . 14 

Boiling Point . 14 

Flashing Point. 14 

Specific Gravity .... 14 

Petroleum Products . 15 

Origin of Petroleum and Natural Gas... 15 

Inorganic Theories . 16 

Chemical Theory . 16 

Volcanic Theory . 16 

Organic Theory . 16 

Chapter III. Natural Gas. 19 

Definition . 19 

Physical Properties . 19 

Gas Pressure . 19 

Chemical Properties . 19 

Composition . 19 

Origin of Natural Gas. 20 

Gas Depletion *. 21 


Chapter IV. Mode of Accumulation of Oil. 

Essential Conditions . 

Relation of Geological Structure to Oil Accumulation 

Oil Sands . 

Geological Structure Favorable to Oil Accumulation. 

Anticline . 

Syncline . 

Dome .... 

Monocline . 

Structural Terrace . 

Lens Structure . 

Fault Structure . 

Joints . 

Igneous Intrusions . 


26 

26 


28 

28 

29 

30 

30 

31 

31 

32 


f 


O) 









































■liapter V. Prospecting for Oil ancl Gas. :;r> 

Equipment .. 

Exploitation . 3 S 

Locating the Structure. 39 

Securing the Leases . 40 

Locating the Wells. 41 

Drilling Methods . 41 

Drive Pipe and Casing. 43 

Cost of Oil Wells . 43 

Abandoning a Well. 45 

Shooting Oil Wells. 45 

Pumping Oil Wells . 45 

Oil Transportation . 48 

Oil Storage . 48 


Chapter VI. General Geological Conditions in Indiana 

Geological Section of Indiana. 

Potsdam Sandstone . 

Lower Magnesian Limestone.... * . 

St. Peters Sandstone . 

Trenton Limestone . 

Cincinnatian Group . 

Silurian Strata . 

Devonian Strata ... 

Mississippian Strata . 

Knobstone . 

Harrodsburg . 

Salem . 

Mitchell . 

Chester .. .. 

Pennsylvanian Strata . 

Pottsville .. 

Coal Measures . 

Merom Sandstone . 

Tertiary Strata . 

Pliocene . 

Quarternary Strata . 

Pleistocene . 

Recent . 

Structural Features . 

Cincinnati Geanticline. 

Northern Basin . 

Southwestern Basin . 

Mt. Carmel Fault. 

Rift . 

' Periods of Movement. 

Effect of Topography. 


50 

51 
50 
50 
50 
50 
53 
53 
53 


53 

53 

55 

56 

57 
57 
57 
57 
57 
57 
57 
57 
5< 
57 

57 

58 
58 
58 
60 
60 
62 
















































Chapter VII. County Reports 
Adams County 
Allen County 
Bartholomew County 
Benton County 
Blackford County 
Boone County 
Brown County 
Carroll County 
Cass County 
Clarke County 
Clay County 
Clinton County 
Crawford County 
Daviess County 
Dearborn County 
Decatur County 
DeKalb County 
Delaware County 
Dubois County 
Elkhart County 
Fayette County 
Floyd County 
Fountain County 
Franklin County 
Fulton County 
Gibson County 
Grant County 
Greene County 
Hamilton County 
Hancock County 
Harrison County 
Hendricks County 
Henry County 
Howard County 
Huntington County 
Jackson County 
Jasper County 
Jay County 
Jefferson County 
Jennings County 
Johnson County 
Knox County 
Kosciusko County 
Lagrange County 
Lake County 
Laporte County 
Lawrence County 


















































< 


Matli.son County .... 

Marion County. 

Marshall County . . 

Martin County. 

Miami County. 

Monroe County 
Montgomery County 
Morgan County 
Newton County 

Noble County . 

Ohio County . 

Orange County .... 

Owen County . 

Parke County. 

Perry County .... 

Pike County . 

Porter County .... 

Posey County. 

Pulaski County .... 
Putnam County . .. 
Randolph County . 
Ripley County .... 

Rush County . 

Scott County . 

Shelby County .... 
Starke County .... 
St. Joseph County . 
Steuben County ... 
Spencer County ... 
Sullivan County .. 
Switzerland County 
Tipton County .... 
Tippecanoe County 

Union County. 

Yanderburg County 
Vermillion County 

Vigo County . 

Wabash County ... 
Warren County .. . 
Warrick County .. 
Washington County 
Wayne County .... 

Wells County . 

White County. 

Whitley County ... 


rage 
, 100 
. 172 
. 173 
. 174 
. 170 
. 178 
. 182 
. 183 
. 183 
. 184 
. 180 
. 180 
. 188 
. 180 
. 180 
. 101 
. 214 
. 214 
. 210 
. 218 
. 218 
222 
222 
224 
224 
. 220 
. 220 
227 
. 225 
. 228 
. 241 
242 
. 241 
. 243 
. 244 
. 240 
. 247 
. 254 


250 


258 

250 

201 

202 

















































LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 


FIG. 

1. Geological Map of Indiana. 

2. Cross Section of an Anticline. 

3. Cross Section of an Anticline Containing Gas. 

4. Cross Section of a Syncline. 

5. Cross Section of a Salt Dome. 

6. Section of a Monocline. 

7. Diagramatic Section of a Structural Terrace. 

S. Diagram of Lens Structure. 

1). Diagram of Fault Structure.. 

10. Diagram of Joint Structure. 

11. Structure Produced by Igneous Intrusion. 

12. Anticline Represented by Contours. 

13. Cross Section of Same Anticline. 

14. A Standard Derrick. 

15. A Steel Frame Derrick. 

1G. Standard Drilling Outfit . 

17. Drilling Tools ... 

18. String of Tools Used with Standard Drill. 

19. Standard Pumping Jack. 

20. Steel Pumping Jack. 

21. View of an Oil Field in Indiana. 

22. Broad Ripple Oil Well After Shooting. 

23. Map Showing Oil and Gas Areas in Indiana. 

24. Structural Map of Indiana, Contours on Trenton.... 

25. Public Road in Knobstone. 

2G. Quarry in Salem Limestone. 

27. Cave in Mitchell Limestone.. 

28. An Outcrop of Mansfield Sandstone. 

29. Map of Adams County.. 

30. Map of Blackford County. 

31. Map of a Part of Daviess County. 

32. Map of Delaware County. 

33. Map of Siberia Oil Field, Dubois County. 

34. Map of Gibson County. 

35. Map of Grant County. 

3G. Map of Hancock County. 

37. Map of Henry County.. 

38. Map of Portion of Jackson County. 

39. Map of Jasper County Oil Field. 

40. Map of Jay County. 

41. Map of Portions of Jennings and Jefferson Counties 

42. Map of Portions of Lake and Newton Counties. 

43. Map of Wilder Oil Field, Laporte County. 


Page 

o 

. 26 
. 27 
. 28 
. 29 
. 30 
. 31 


34 

34 

36 

36 

38 

39 

40 
42 
44 
47 

47 
46 
46 

48 

49 
52 

54 

55 

56 
63 
70 
82 
85 
91 
97 

118 

129 

132 

145 

147 

148 
153 

163 

164 


( 8 ) 













































9 

Page 

44. Map of a Portion of Lawrence County. 165 

45. Map of Madison County. 168 

4(5. Map of Broad Ripple Field. 171 

47. Structural Map of a Portion of Martin County. 174 

48. Map of Loogootee Oil Field, Martin County. 175 

40. Map of a Portion of Monroe County. 170 

50. Structural Map of a Portion of Orange County. 186 

51. Map of Structural Conditions Near Orangeville. 187 

52. Petersburg Structure, Pike County. 102 

53. Map of Union Oil Field, Pike-Gibson Counties. 103 

54. Map of Bowman Oil Field, Pike County. 104 

55. Map of Glenzen Terrace, Pike County. 105 

56. Map of Structural Conditions Near Winslow. 106 

57. Map of Franeesville Oil Field, Pulaski County. 216 

58. Map of State Farm Anticline, Putnam County. 217 

50. Map of Randolph County. 210 

60. Map of Sullivan County. 228 

61. Map of Vigo County . 247 

62. Map of Wells County. 250 

63. Map of Indiana Showing Location of Wells. 264 






















CHAPTER I. 


INTRODUCTION 

No industry is more dependent upon science than is the petroleum 
industry upon the science of geology. The petroleum and natural gas 
industry of Indiana is of so much importance to the industrial development 
of the State that it should be given every aid which this science can 
supply for the solution of its problems. Enormous sums of money have 
been expended and are still being expended in Indiana in “wild-cat” drill¬ 
ing and the greater part of this form of prospecting is being indulged in 
without reference to the presence or absence of geological conditions 
favorable to the accumulation of oil and gas. Very naturally such pro¬ 
specting leads to enormous losses and few gains. 

In the absence of any comprehensive discussion of the subject of petro¬ 
leum and natural gas in Indiana available for distribution and in response 
to hundreds of inquiries for information on the subject reaching the office 
of the Division of Geology, this report has been prepared. 

The report is preliminary to the preparation of a more comprehensive 
report to be issued later. It was not possible in the limited time and with 
the limited funds at our disposal to make the report more complete. 
The collected information has not been studied as thoroughly as it should 
have been and hence conclusions have not been drawn where, perhaps, 
a more careful study of the evidence would warrant. However, since 
the industry is changing rapidly through development in parts of the State 
and decline in others no report can be prepared which will not need 
revision in a few years. In view of this fact it seems best to present 
such information as we have been able to bring together with the hope 
that it may be of immediate assistance to those who have so urgently 
requested it. 

Those who are seeking petroleum in Indiana would do well to bear in 
mind that the geologist does not use “divining rod” or “witching” methods 
in the location of oil. He studies the structural conditions of the strata 
to determine whether such structural conditions are favorable to the 
accumulation of oil. For the determination of structural conditions he • 
must be able to examine exposures of the bed rock or durolith, the 
indurated solid portion of the earth underlying the loose mantle of clay, 
sand, and gravel called the regolith. 

In certain parts of Indiana the durolith is completely concealed by a 
thick covering of glacial drift and unless deep well records are available 
the geologist is without means of determining the structural conditions. 
The majority of the reported oil seeps from this part of the state are 
only oil-like films of oxide of iron on water seeping from glacial sands 
and gravels. Surface indications are of little value in oil prospecting in 
such a region. To be of value in any region they must be correctly 
interpreted. 


( 10 ) 


In that portion of Indiana where the glacial covering is attenuated or 
in the lion-glaciated portion the work of the geologist is not so hampered 
and wherever persistent hard layers of rock are present he is usually 
able to determine the structural conditions. 

b or the good of the petroleum industry in the future it is hoped that 
more money will be expended in securing favorable locations for wells 
and less expended on the drilling of wells that have been located without 
reference to the structural conditions. The money expended on one deep 
well will pay for securing the information and the publication of many 
thousands of copies of a report more comprehensive in its scope than 
the present one. Mistakes of location are expensive in more ways than 
one. Aside from the actual pecuniary loss in drilling the well, there is 
often a loss of confidence in the territory. For example, dry holes in 
sections one, two and three may condemn good territory in adjacent 
sections whereas if the structure had first been located the drilling of 
a single well on the structure might prove the territory. 

It is important, therefore, that in all areas of the state where it is 
possible to determine the structural conditions this be done before any 
prospecting with the drill takes place. 

The oil industry suffers from two classes of individuals, namely, from 
the purveyor of oil stock of the “blue sky” brand and from the activities 
of the fake oil expert. The laws of Indiana very wisely provide for the 
protection of its citizens against the dispenser of inferior foods. No one 
doubts that the abolition of the food inspection department would result 
in making the State the dumping ground for all sorts of foods of inferior 
quality. However, the average consumer of foods has some knowledge of 
their quality which knowledge is within itself a form of protection. But 
in the matter of oil stock, legislation affords inadequate protection and 
how many are qualified to judge of the value of oil stock? 

Many States protect their citizens against the unscrupulous dealer in 
oil stocks. States without such protection naturally become the Meccas 
of jobbers in all sorts of oil stock of the “blue sky” brand. Some form 
of legislation is needed in Indiana to protect the novitious small investor 
from the machinations of the unscrupulous oil stock purveyor. Such 
legislation should not interfere with the legitimate attempts at the devel¬ 
opment of the oil industry in Indiana. It should not prevent the organ¬ 
ization of local cooperative companies for the avowed purpose of develop¬ 
ing prospective oil properties within the State. Nor should such com¬ 
panies be prevented under proper representations from offering the stock 
of such companies for sale. For in some parts of the State where it is 
impossible to determine the structural conditions and the only possible 
form of prospecting, that with the drill, is extremely hazardous, the 
expense of such testing should be widely distributed in order that the 
burden may not fall too heavily upon the few. 

The purveyor of all oil stock should be required to furnish to the 
purchaser of such stock a sworn statement of the location of the oil 
property, the number of acres under lease, the state of development, and 
a certified copy of the report of the consulting geologist. 


12 


The oil operator, the investor in oil stock, and the general public need 
protection from the quack, the manipulator of the “divining rod”, the 
witch hazel switch and other devices for the location of oil pools. Novi- 
tious oil companies are known to have used the funds secured from 
the sale of oil stock to small investors to drill a well costing as much 
as ten or twelve thousand dollars on a location made by the manipulator 
of a “divining rod”. 

The success of the competently trained geologist in the location of 
geological structures favorable to the accumulation of oil and gas has 
induced a large number of unprepared or illy prepared individuals to 
assume the role of oil geologists. Its rewards have also induced many 
pseudo-scientists to enter the field. Such impostors do not find employ¬ 
ment with reputable oil companies of experience, but they gull the public 
through the mushroom companies of limited experience in the oil industry, 
and at the same time tend to bring discredit upon the science. 

There are two ways of obtaining protection for the public against the 
activities of such impostors. One is to educate the people to an under¬ 
standing of the scientific principles of oil geology, a very difficult task. 
A more immediate and effective method of protection might be secured 
through legislation which would provide for the licensing of oil experts 
by the State and measures prohibiting the practice of the profession of 
oil geologist by persons not possessing the requisite amount of training 
in the science and practice of geology. 


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

The writer acknowledges his indebtedness to those who have written 
on the subject of petroleum and natural gas in Indiana. The information 
contained in the reports of Blatchley and others has been freely drawn 
upon in the preparation of the county reports. The publications men¬ 
tioned in the accompanying bibliography have been especially helpful. 
The reference figures in the text apply to the numerals in this list of 
publications. 

In the field work the writer has had the assistance of the members of 
the field party of 1919, the names of the members of which are given 
under Geological Corps. 

Especial mention should be made of the assistance and advice of Dr. 
E. R. Cumings, the field work of Dr. C. A. Malott who, assisted by Mr. 
P. B. Stockdale, collected data for structural maps of portions of Jennings, 
Orange and Pike Counties, prepared a structural map of the Bloomington 
Quadrangle and assisted in other ways. Mr. O. H. Hughes, a member 
of the field party of 1917 and 1919, collected the data for a structural map 
of a portion of Jackson County. Dr. S. S. Visher collected data and 
prepared the report on Sullivan County. Mr. J. R. Reeves, a member 
of the field party for 1917 and 1919, prepared the maps and charts and 
assisted in other ways. Mr. B. J. Malott collected data, read manuscript 
and corrected proof. Miss Alice O’Connor did the stenographic work. 


BIBLIOGRAPHY 


1. “The Natural Gas Field of Indiana.” Dr. A. J. Phinney, Eleventh 
Ann. Rept. U. S. G. S. Pt. 1, 1890, pp. 617-742. 

2. “Natural Gas and Petroleum.” S. S. Gorby, Sixteenth Ann. Rept. 
Indiana Dept, of Geology and Natural Resources, 1888, pp. 189-301. 

3. “Petroleum Industry in Indiana.” W. S. Blatchley, Ann. Indiana Dept, 
of Geology Reports, 1896, pp. 27-96; 1903, pp. 79-210; 1906, pp. 429-558. 

4. “The Princeton Petroleum Field of Indiana.” R. S. Blatchley, Ann. 
Rept. of Indiana, Dept, of Geol. 1906, pp. 559-607. 

5. Special Report on Oil and Gas, E. Haworth, Uni. Geol. Sur. of Kansas, 
Vol. IX, 1908. 

6 . “Oil and Gas Resources of Kansas.” Bui. 3, R. C. Moore and W. P. 
Haynes, State Geol. Survey of Kansas, 1917. 

7. “Oil Geology,” Dorsey Hager. 

8 . “Petroleum Technology,” Bacon and Hamor. 

9. “Oil,” etc. Bui. 33, Ill. Geol. Survey, 1915, Kay and Savage. 

10. “Petroleum and Natural Gas.” Mineral Resources of U. S. for various 
years. 

11. “Oil and Gas in Louisiana,” G. D. Harris, Bui. 429, U. S. G. S. 1910. 


( 13 ) 


CHAPTER II. 


PETROLEUM: ITS PROPERTIES AND ORIGIN 

Definition. Petroleum or crude oil is a mixture of gaseous, liquid and 
solid hydrocarbons in which the liquid elements predominate, but in which 
the percentage of each element is not a fixed quantity, but varies in dif¬ 
ferent oils. The solid hydrocarbons are in solution and consist of paraffin 
or asphaltum or in some oils of both. Those oils with asphaltum in 
solution are said to have an asphalt base and those containing paraffin 
to have a paraffin base. The paraffin oils predominate east of the Missis¬ 
sippi River and the asphalt oils west. 

Composition. The chemical compounds of which petroleum is a mechan¬ 
ical mixture belong to a number of hydrocarbon series. They include the 

marsh gas series, C n H 2 n + 2 , ranging from CH 4 to C 35 H 72 . The first member 
is gaseous, the middle members liquid, and the last members are solid 

paraffins. The olefiant series, CnH2n, is represented by some of its mem¬ 
bers in small amounts. The Acetylene series, C11H211-2, is represented 
in some petroleums. The fourth se’ies is CnH2n-4. The fifth or benzine 
series, C n H 2 n- 6 , is represented in nearly all petroleums. 

The elementary analyses of various petroleums indicate that the per 
cent of carbon varies from 83.5 to 86.6; the per cent of hydrogen from 12 
to 14.8, and the per cent of oxygen from 0.1 to 6.9. These three elements 
make up the larger part of the oil, but nitrogen and sulphur occur in minute 
quantities usually. 

Color. The color of petroleum varies with the sand or field. Pennsyl¬ 
vanian oils have a greenish color; the Kansas-Oklahoma oils have a 
yellowish tint; California oils are black; Indiana oils greenish black; 
some Kentucky oils are green by reflected light and red by transmitted 
light. 

Odor. The odor of most petroleums is slight, but some oils have an 
odor resembling some of their products such as gasolene or kerosene. 

Density. The specific gravity of petroleum varies from 0.77 in some 
light oils to 1 in the heavier oils. The average for the American petro¬ 
leums is about 0.89. The oil from the Lima-Indiana field ranges in 
specific gravity from 0.816 to 0.86. The Terre Haute oil has a specific 
gravity of 0.879; the Jasper oil of 0.928. 

Boiling Point. The temperature of boiling ranges from 180° F. in 
Pennsylvanian oils to 338° F. in some German oils. The point of solidifi¬ 
cation ranges from 82° F. to several degrees below zero. 

The Flashing Point. The flashing point of petroleum varies from zero 
in some Italian oils to 338° F. in some African oils. The fuel value of tlye 
oil from the eastern Indiana field is 18,900 B. T. U. 

Specific Gravity. The specific gravity of a substance is its weight 
compared with the same volume of water which is assumed to have a 
specific gravity of 1. Petroleum usually floats on water and has a specific 

(14i 


gravity less than that of water. The specific gravity of petroleum may 
he expressed as a decimal fraction, as .8588, or the Baume scal-e may be.,, 
used for oils lighter than water, in which case it will be expressed in 
degrees. If the oil has a specific gravity equal to water its specific gravity 
as expressed on the Baume scale is 10°. 

In the determination of specific gravity of oils the hydrometer is used. 
This instrument consists of a glass column provided with the Baume 
scale graduated in degrees from 10 to 100 and an expanded portion below 
the scale which contains mercury to sink the hydrometer to the point 
which registers its specific gravity if the temperature of the fluid is 60° P. 
For lower or higher temperatures, corrections must be made. The specific 
gravity may be calculated by adding 130 to the reading on the hydrometer 
and dividing 140 by the sum, as 140 = .8235 specific gravity. 

40 + 130 

The following table will show the relation between the Baume scale and 
specific gravity and weight per gallon: 


Degrees 

Baume. 

Specific 

Gravity. 

Pounds 

per 

Gallon 

Degrees 

Baurnjj 

Specific 

Gravity 

Pounds 

per 

Gallon 

Degrees 

Baumf 

Specific 

Gravity 

Pounds 

per 

Gallon 

10 

1.0000 

8.33 

32 

.8641 

7.20 

54 

.7608 

8.34 

11 

.9929 

8.27 

33 

.8588 

7.15 

55 

.7567 

6.30 

12 

.9859 

8.21 

34 

.8536 

7.11 

56 

.7526 

6.27 

13 

.9790 

8.16 

35 

.8484 

7.07 

57 

.7486 

6.24 

14 

.9722 

8.10 

26 

. 9433 

7.03 

58 

.7446 

6.20 

15 

.9655 

8.04 

37 

.8383 

6.98 

59 

.7407 

6.17 

16 

.9589 

7.99 

38 

.8333 

6.94 

60 

.7368 

6.14 

17 

.9523 

7.93 

39 

.8284 

6.90 

61 

.7329 

6.11 

18 

.9459 

7.88 

40 

.8235 

6.86 

62 

.7290 

6.07 

19 

.9395 

7.83 

41 

.8187 

6.82 

63 

.7253 

6.04 

20 

.9333 

7.78 

42 

.8139 

6.78 

64 

.7216 

6.01 

21 

.9271 

7.721 

43 

.8092 

6.74 

65 

.7179 

5.98 

22 

.9210 

7.67 

44 

.8045 

6.70 

66 

.7142 

5.95 

23 

.9150 

7.62 

45 

.8000 

6.66 

67 

.7106 

5.92 

24 

.9090 

7.57 

46 

.7954 

6.63 

68 

.7070 

5.89 

25 

.9032 

7.53 \ 

47 

.7909 

6.59 

69 

.7035 

5.86 

26 

.8974 » 

7.48 | 

48 

.7865 

6.55 

70 

.7000 

5.83 

27 

.8917 ■ 

7.43 

49 

.7821 

6.52 

71 

.6829 

5.69 

28 

.8860 ft 

7.38 \ 

50 

.7777 

6.48 

72 

. 6666 

5.55 

29 

.8805 i 

7.34 { 

51 

.7734 

6.44 

73 

.6511 

5.42 

30 

.8750 

7.29 i 

52 

.7692 

6.41 

74 

.6363 

5.30 

31 

.8695 

7.24 

53 

.7650 

6.37 

75 

.6222 

5.18 


Petroleum Products. The various products obtained from crude petro¬ 
leum are kerosene, gasolene, benzene, naphtha, rhigolene, vaseline, para¬ 
ffin, lubricating oil, petroleum butter, formolit, asphalt, oil coke, gas 
carbon, special illuminating oils such as mineral sperm and astral oil. 


Origin of Petroleum and Natural Gas. 

The close association of petroleum and natural gas points to a common 
origin. The hydrocarbons which form them are identical or closely 
related. The gases given off by petroleum are similar to those of natural 
gas, which may be converted into liquid by increase of pressure at low 
temperature, as may be the gas given off by petroleum. Natural gas is 
commonly present in petroleum, and they often exist together, though 
natural gas may exist alone. 

The theories of the origin of oil and gas fall into two classes: the 
inorganic and the organic. 





























16 


Inorganic Theories. A chemical theory was suggested by Humbolt ana 
further elaborated by Berthelot 1 and Mendeleeft-. This theory assumes 
that the interior of the earth contains metallic iron and carbides of iron; 
that the high interior heat of the earth converts water into steam, which 
attacks the carbides of iron, producing hydrocarbons which are forced 
toward the surface by the expanding power of steam. According to this 
theory the hydrocarbons formed should be predominately of the acetylene 
series, but they are predominately of the methane series; they should be 
associated with igneous rather than sedimentary rocks. 

Another inorganic theory is the volcanic theory of Coste 3 which assumes 
that oil and gas are the result of volcanic action. Coste asserts that ani¬ 
mal remains are not intombed in the rocks and that vegetable remains 
decompose into carbonaceous matter and further distillation of carbon¬ 
aceous matter has not taken place in nature; that gaseous, liquid, and 
solid hydrocarbons are the result of volcanic activity, because oil and gas 
are under great pressure which must be volcanic; heated oil and gas 
exists in some fields; oil and gas occur in folded and fissured regions 
parallel with great orogenic movements; oil and gas and bitumens are 
never indigenous to the strata in which they are found and that the 
density of rocks precludes the possibility of anything except volcanic 
pressure forcing oil and gas through them. Many of these assertions do 
not accord with the observed facts. The almost complete restriction of 
oil and gas to sedimentary rocks placed at great distance from volcanic 
activity and the decrease in pressure in wells are not in harmony with 
this theory. 

Organic Theory. This theory assumes that oil and gas have been 
generated from animal and vegetable matter by a slow process of distil¬ 
lation. Many accumulated geological facts may be enumerated in support 
of this theory, such as: The close association of rocks containing organic 
matter to those containing oil and gas; drops of oil have been found in 
decaying plant remains; natural gas, a constituent of both oil and gas, 
is generated from vegetable matter buried in porous beds; it is present 
in coal as are other hydrocarbons of petroleum; such gases as carbon 
dioxide, hydrogen, marsh gas and nitrogen are formed during the decay 
of sea weeds. Hydrocarbons analgous to those in natural gas, petroleum 
and asphalt have been derived from either plant or animal remains. 
Natural petroleum has optical properties similar to those of organic 
compounds which inorganically synthesized oil does not possess. 

The presence of oil in shales from which as much as twenty-five gallons 
per ton have been extracted has strengthened the belief that the organic 
matter of shales is the source of petroleum. It is assumed that the 
bituminous matter is the form of a solid, organic gum, kerogen, which 
may be converted into liquid hydrocarbons by the application of heat. 
McCoy 1 placed an oil shale under pressure and secured liquid hydrocarbons 
from it and asserts that liquid hydrocarbons can be formed from solid 
bituminous material at ordinary temperatures and under pressures of 

berthelot, E. M. P. Annales Chein. Phys., Vol. I, 1866, p. 481. 

“Mendeleeff, D. Der Deutch. Chem. Gesell, 1877, p. 229. 

“Cost6, E. Am. Inst. Min. Eng., Yol. XX, p. 504, 1914. 



17 


5,000 to 6,000 pounds, such as exist at the depth of oil bearing horizons; 
and that the only place where such compounds would be formed are in 
areas of differential movement. 

Kemp has recently called attention to the presence of asphaltum in the 
beach sands of Florida and the possibility of the origin of petroleum from 
the marine and terrestrial organisms in buried coastal sands. 

The optical behavior of petroleum under polarized light is said to be 
due to the presence of cholesterol, which may be derived from animal 
fats and phytosterol, which is also a constituent of vegetable oils, facts 
strongly supporting the organic theory of the origin of petroleum. In 
fact, the weight of evidence at the present time seems to favor the organic 
theory. The remains of land plants and animals may have contributed 
in a minor way to the accumulations of petroleum, but marine organisms 
were probably the greater contributors of the original compounds from 
which the petroleum was extracted through long periods of time at pos¬ 
sibly only ordinary rock pressures and at moderately low temperatures. 


OIL WELLS IN INDIANA 


COUNTIES 

1906-1910 
Completed—Dry 

1910-1914 
Completed—Dry 

Adams. 

. 112 

13 

20 

1 

Blackford . 

. 158 

28 

22 

5 

Cass . 

. 3 

2 



Daviess . 

. 2 

0 

10 

2 

Delaware. 

. 297 

75 

125 

28 

Dubois . 

. 5 

4 

5 

1 

Gibson .... 

. 96 

28 

30 

2 

Grant . 

. * 480 

42 

11 

2 

Hamilton . . 



0 

0 

Harrison . 



2 

0 

Huntington ... 

. 206 

9 

0 

0 

Jay .-. 

. 561 

112 

100 

17 

Knox . 

4 

3 

19 

17 

Madison ... 

11 

3 

3 

3 

Marion .. 



0 

0 

Martin .. 

. 2 

1 

2 

1 

Miami ... 

1 

1 

3 

3 

Pike . 

. 280 

63 

116 

25 

Pulaski . 

4 

3 



Randolph . 

. 59 

18 

33 

0 

Shelby . 



4 

0 

Sullivan . 

. 3 

3 

758 

271 

Vigo . 

. 3 

2 

7 

2 

Wabash. 



1 

0 

Warrick .'. 

3 

3 

1 

1 

Wells .- 

497 

71 

35 

2 

Miscellaneous . 

. 128 

91 

30 

15 


Wells 

Abandoned 

1915 

866 

1389 


1320 


5 

4141 


891 

554 

12 

87 

15 


49 

3 


213 


1 


16 


3950 


a McCoy, Alex. W. Journal of Geol., Yol. XXVII, 4 p. 252. 
2 Kemp, J. F. Econ. Geol., Vol. XIV, 4 p^ 302. 






















































Date 

1889 

1890 

1891. 

1892 

1893 

1894 

1895. 

1896 

1897. 

1898. 

1899 

1900. 

1901 

1902. 

1903. 

1904 

1905 

1906 

1907 

1908. 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917. 

1918. 



PETROLEUM PRODUCTION IN INDIANA 


Barrels 

33,375. 

63,496. 

136,634. 

698,068.. 

2,335,293. 

3.688.666.. 

4.386.132.. 

4.680.732.. 

4.122.356.. 

3.730.907.. 

3.848.182.. 

4.874.392.. 
5,757,086.. 

7.880.896.. 

9.186.411.. 

11.339.124.. 

10.964.247.. 

7.673.477.. 
5,128,037.. 

3.283.629.. 
2,296,086.. 

2.159.725.. 

1.695.289.. 
970,009.. 
956,095.. 

1.335.456.. 

875.758.. 
769,036.. 

759.432.. 


Value 
$ 31,414 

55,403 
91,545 
388,300 
1,494,588 
2,654,840 
4,780,884 

2.954.411 

1.880.412 
2,214,322 
3,363,738 
4,693,983 
4,822,826 
6,526,622 

10,474,127 

12,235,574 

9,404,909 

6,770,066 

4,536,930 

3,203,883 

1,997,610 

1,568,475 

1,228,835 

885,975 

1,279,226 

1,548,042 

813,365 

1,207,565 

1,470,548 


(Compiled from Mineral Resources of the United States.) 






























































CHAPTER 111. 


NATURAL GAS 

Definition: Natural gas is a mixture of hydrocarbons (chiefly) which 
are gaseous at ordinary atmospheric temperatures. The principal hydro¬ 
carbon is marsh gas (CH 4 ), methane or fire damp. Natural gas also 
contains small quantities of ethane (C.HJ, Olefine (C,H i; ), Carbon dioxide 
(CO,), Carbon monoxide (CO), Oxygen (O), Nitrogen (N), Hydrogen (H), 
Helium (He), Neon (Ne) and Hydrogen sulphide (H,S). However, not 
all natural gases contain all of these gases. 

Physical Properties. Natural gas is colorless and usually odorless, 
though the presence of such gases as hydrogen sulphide may produce a 
perceptible odor. It is usually inflammable though some natural gases 
contain so much nitrogen as to be non-combustible. It burns with a lumin¬ 
ous flame and deposits carbon when the flame is brought in contact with 
objects of lower temperature. It readily mixes with air and forms an 
explosive mixture. 

Gas Pressure. Natural gas as it occurs in the earth is usually under 
pressure which ranges as high as 2,000 pounds per square inch. This 
pressure is commonly called “rock pressure” and decreases as the gas 
becomes exhausted. The pressure is probably due to the expansive force 
of the confined gas. 

Chemical Properties. The maximum amount of the various constituents 
found in natural gas is: Marsh gas, 98.40%; Ethane,. 14.60%; Olifinant, 
.39%; Carbon dioxide, 1.6%; Carbon monoxide (CO), 2.5%; Oxygen (O), 
3.46%; Nitrogen (N), 85.83%; Hydrogen (H), 11.51%; Helium (He), 
1.84%; and Hydrogen sulphide (H,S), .20%. 

The composition of natural gases from various fields is given below 
for comparison with the analysis of a gas from Muncie: 


COMPOSITION OF NATURAL GASES 


State. 

a 

o 

* o’ 

ci 

0) 

*«r-l 

2 

to 

ta 

c-j 

o 

<v 

w 

w 

O 

<D 

<2 

0) 

O 

■**-w 

’*! 

O 

Q _ 

o 6 - 

Q 

Carbon Monoxide 
_ (CO) 

! Oxigen 

! Nitrogen 

1 

1 

Hydrogen 

1 

Helium 

1 

<D 

73, 

jg« 

c n 

£ 

W 

Location. 


92 67 


.25 

.25 

.45 

.35 

2.53 

2.35 


.15 

Muncie. 


73 31 



.81 


3.46 

21 92 




Pittsfield. 

Ohio 

92.61 


.30 

.26 

.50 

.34 

3.61 

2.18 


.20 

Findlay. 


94 40 





.23 

5.08 


.183 


Iola. 


14 85 

# "41 




.20 

82.70 

tr. 

1.84 


Dexter. 














( 19 ') 








































20 


Origin of Natural Gas. Since natural gas is closely associated with 
petroleum they are thought to have a common origin. They often occur 
together, though one may occur without the presence of the other. Nearly 
all petroleums contain at least small quantities of natural gas. Since 
natural gas is free to move independent of the movement of water it may 
accumulate in a different reservoir though having a common origin with 
petroleum. For instance, it may accumulate, in fact does accumulate, in 
glacial sands and gravels at a horizon far from its point of origin. 

The principal constituent of most natural gases is marsh gas (CH 4 ). 
This gas also accumulates in marshes where decaying organic matter is 
surrounded with porous sands. This gas is also found in coal beds and 
is one of the constituents of petroleum. These facts argue for an organic 
origin for natural gas and for a common origin with petroleum. 

PRODUCTION OF NATURAL GAS IN INDIANA 


No. Wells, Wells, Productive 


Year 

Producers 

Value 


Gas 

Dry 

Wells 

1886 


$300,000 

(Est. 

Amt. Coal 

Displaced) 


1887 


600,000 

ii 

ii ii 

a 


1888 


1,320,000 

ii 

ii ii 

a 


1889 


2,075,702 

a 

ii ii 

a 


1890 

93 

2,302,500 




435 

1891 

93 

3,942,500 




305 

1892 

159 

4,716,000 




570 

1893 


5,718,000 





1894 


5,437,000 




. L. 

1895 


5,203,200 





1896 


5,043,635 



- * - *v-- 


1897 

452 

5,009,208 


419 

66 

2,881 

1898 

533 

5,060,969 


706 

111 

3,325 

1899 

571 

6,680,370 


838 

109 

3,909 

1900 

670 

7,254,539 


861 

156 

4,546 

1901 

656 

6,954,566 


985 

208 

4,572 

1902 

929 

7,081,344 


1,331 

205 

5,820 

1903 

924 

6,098,364 


895 

242 

5,514 

1904 

846 

4,342,409 


706 

153 

4,684 

1905 

740 

3,094,134 


252 

74 

3,650 

1906 

578 

1,750,715 


159 

46 

3,523 

1907 

687 

1,572,605 


185 

56 

3,386 

1908 

823 

1,312,507 


187 

41 

3,223 

1909 

1,010 

1,616,903 


190 

70 

2,938 

1910 

1,027 

1,473,403 


69 

33 

2,955 

1911 

1,094 

1,192,418 


110 

32 

2,744 

1912 

1,140 

1,014,295 


96 

39 

2,547 

1913 

1,100 

843,047 


69 

24 

2,370 

1914 

1,029 

755,407 


68 

19 

2,224 

1915 

999 

695,380 


65 

11 

2,063 

1916 

995 

503,373 


43 

14 

1,967 

1917 

941 

453,000 


42 

17 

1,830 


(Compiled from Mineral Resources of the United States) 



























21 


NATURAL GAS IN INDIANA 


Pressure in Lbs.-- 


COUNTIES 

l>epth of Well 

1910 


1914 

Adams . 


100 

(1912) 

-6 

Bartholomew . 


50-250 


80-150 

Blackford . 


1- 10 


0- 20 

Clark . 


27 

(1912) 


Daviess . 




25- 40 

Martin . 


0- 60 



Decatur . 


0-315 


5-350 

Delaware . 


0- 70 


0- 60 

Franklin . 


60 

(1913) 


Grant . 


2- 50 


0- 50 

Hamilton . 


15-180 


0-230 

Hancock . 


0-100 


6- 80 

Harrison . 

. 320- 764 (1911) 

60-110 


0. 50 

Henry. 


0- 90 


4-100 

Howard . 


0-220 


30-160 

Jay . 


0- 40 


0- 40 

Jefferson . 

. 1,360 

10 

(1911) 

20 

Madison . 

. 800-1,200 

0-190 


0-100 

Miami. 

. 900-1.000 

0- 40 



Marion 




Ripley . 


40 


70-300 

Pike . 


125-500 


50-225 

Randolph . 

. 900-1,300 

0-180 


1-125 

Rush . 

. 700-1,400 

20-325 


15-325 

Shelby . 

. 650-1,020 

1-375 


20-300 

Spencer . 

. 1,025 

410 

(1912) 


Sullivan . 

. 698- 795 

200 


50-185 

Tipton . 

. 750-1,100 

10-230 


3-100 

Wayne . 

. 800-1,150 

50-240 


45 


GAS DEPLETION 

An examination of the pressure of gas in the wells of Indiana shows that 
the gas is being rapidly depleted. The pressure recorded in some of the 
wells in 1910 was 250 pounds per square inch and in 1914 the same wells 
showed a pressure of only 150 pounds. 

The following methods of computing gas depletion are given by the 
Treasury Department of the United States 1 : 

“Details of production or the performance record of the well or property. 

—As a general rule the demand on a natural gas property is a variable 
factor. In certain fields, however, the demand from some wells has from 
the beginning, or for considerable periods, been greater than the supply, 
so that the amount of gas marketed per well may, as in the case of oil, 
show a regular decline, which will be indicative of the total amount that 
the well may be expected to produce, and also the rate of production. Even 
where the demand does not greatly exceed the supply, the amount and 


Manual for the Oil and Gas Industry, U. S. Treasury Dept., 1919. 





































rate of past production may in certain cases throw light on the future of 
the well or property. 

“Decline in open-flow capacity.— Where data are available the decline in 
open-flow capacity indicates in a general way the rate of exhaustion of 
the gas field. The relationship is not at all close and varies from field to 
field and from well to well. Also for most gas wells accurate data on 
decline in open-flow capacity are not available. Nevertheless it is prob¬ 
able that for certain properties this method will have value, for with rare 
exceptions the production of gas from a well leads to a decline in its ca¬ 
pacity, and the fraction produced is roughly proportional to the decline. 

“Comparison with life history of similar wells or properties, particularly 
those now exhausted or nearing exhaustion. —Where no other data are 
available the rate of depletion of a gas well or property may be approxi¬ 
mated by comparison with a neighboring well or property that has reached 
a later stage in life. Particularly is this applicable in a district where 
many gas wells have become exhausted. For example, in a region where 
\Vells produce from 8 to 12 years, or an average of 10 years, a 10 per cent 
deduction will be a rough approximation of depletion. 

“Size of reservoir and pressure of gas, or the pore-space method. For 

some properties the pore-space method may be best for estimating under¬ 
ground supplies of natural gas and for a good many it will furnish addi¬ 
tional evidence of value. The method would be ideal if the average per¬ 
centage of pore-space, the extent and thickness of the sand, and the pres¬ 
sure of the gas could be accurately ascertained. In computing the reserves 
of an individual property by this method the migratory character of gas 
must be considered and the production and behavior of adjacent proper¬ 
ties taken into account. The factors that make the method difficult to 
apply are difficulty of accurately ascertaining the thickness of pay, limits 
of pool, percentage of pore-space, the effect of encroaching water and oil, 
and the quantity of gas remaining when commercial production is no 
longer possible. 

“Take, for example, a pool where there is no encroachment by water. 
Suppose that the pore-space is 25 per cent, the thickness of the pay 20 
feet, and the extent of the pool 10 square miles, or roughly 280,000,000 
square feet. The volume of the reservoir would be 1,400,000.000 cubic feet, 
and the amount of gas in the sand could be readily computed by taking into 
account the closed pressure of the wells. 

“Other indications of depletion. —Additional evidence of decreasing sup¬ 
ply of natural gas in the ground is commonly observable in the behavior 
of the wells and the provision that must be made for transporting the gas 
to market. Observations on minute pressure show more or less progres¬ 
sive change as the wells become older and an increasing amount of gas is 
drawn from the ground. Line pressures and pressures at compressing sta¬ 
tions are also likely to show a progressive change in the same direction. 
The appearance of water or oil in a gas well or in neighboring gas wells 
may be a very significant symptom of the approaching termination of the 
life of the well. The clogging of gas wells by paraffin, salt, or other de¬ 
posits may demand modification of depletion estimates. 


Closed-Pressure Method 

“Because of its general applicability, the closed-pressure method is by 
far the best method of estimating the depletion of gas properties. 

“Unfortunately, accurate closed-pressure data have not been kept for all 
properties or perhaps even for the majority of properties; but the roc tv 
pressure in most pools is known or is ascertained with a fair degree of 
accuracy, and the information drawn from the pressure decline is, with 
the exception of a few fields, not subject to profound modification, because 
of .factors whose value can not be appraised. The basis of this method is 
Boyle’s law. According to this law of physics, if gas is pumped into a 
vessel until the pressure is 200 pounds and then is drawn off until the 
pressure is 100 pounds, the size of the vessel remaining fixed, and ignoring 
for the moment atmospheric pressure, it may be concluded that one-half 
of the gas has been drawn out of the vessel. If an underground gas reser¬ 
voir of fixed dimensions is tapped by wells and the pressure is found to be 
a thousand pounds, and then if the gas is drawn off through the wells until 
the gas pressure in the pool is lowered to 100 pounds, we may infer that 
about nine-tenths of the supply of gas has been exhausted. 

“‘Unit Cost’ as applied to natural gas. —Although, as a rule, the number 
of cubic feet of gas under a tract cannot be satisfactorily estimated and 
the quantity that will be marketed is even less definite, the “unit cost 
method” can be used by regarding pounds of closed pressure as units, for 
the actual quantity of gas underground commonly varies with the decline 
in pressure and the relative quantity at the beginning and end of the tax 
year and at the time of abandonment, is, in the lack of better information, 
usable for tax purposes. 

“Corrections and refinements of closed-pressure method. —Several correc¬ 
tions and more or less important refinements are made in applying this 
method to the computation of depletion, and it should be borne in mind that 
it dees not afford data on the amount of gas originally in the pool or at 
any later specified time, but only the fraction of the gas that has been 
removed from its natural reservoir does not remain fixed but becomes 
smaller as the gas is drawn and water or oil advances into a part of the 
space formerly occupied by the gas. The pressure is thus prevented from 
declining at a rate proportionate to the amount of gas drawn from the pool. 
The correction on account of water or oil encroachment is difficult to 
make, because of the lack of data to determine the extent of the encroach¬ 
ment. However, in a good many pools, after a study of the distribution 
of wells that have been “drowned out” and the history of water troubles 
in similar nearby pools, it is possible to make allowance for water or oil 
encroachment which will more or less closely approximate the facts. 

“Another refinement applicable to the computation of depletion of natural 
gas by the closed-pressure method is based upon the fact that even where 
there is no encroachment of water or oil the depletion is not precisely 
represented by the gauge readings, though the errors aie geneially so 
small that they may be ignored. For example, where the pressure de¬ 
clines from 1,000 to 500 pounds, the gas is not exactly half gone, foi the 
reason the pressures referred to are gauge readings and to each should be 


24 


added the pressure of the atmosphere—for most fields about 14.4 pounds to 
the square inch. The fraction remaining in the ground then becomes 
514.4. 

1014.4 

“Account should also be taken of the pressure at which wells are aban¬ 
doned in the field or district. 

“If wells can not be operated with profit after the pressure has declined 
to 25 pounds gauge reading (39.4 pounds absolute), then the percentage of 
recoverable gas remaining when the pressure has declined from 1,000 to 
500 pounds gauge reading is not one-half or even the fraction 514.4 but 

475. 1014.4 

975. The difference in the fraction where pressures of several hundred 
pounds are involved is not great and scarcely worth considering in view 
of the other errors which are certain to affect the result. However, after 
the pressure has declined to a low figure, the matter of correcting the 
fraction becomes of considerable importance. Thus, if the pressure of 
abandonment is 4 pounds gauge reading and during the year the average 
closed pressure of a pool has declined from 10 pounds to 5 pounds gauge 
reading, five-sixths instead of one-half of the recoverable gas has been 
withdrawn. 

“Still another refinement that has, as a rule, more theoretical than prac¬ 
tical value may be worthy of consideration in certain instances. This 
arises out of the fact that gases do not expand precisely as the pressure 
decreases, and that even if the size of the natural reservoir remains fixed 
the pressure does not decline in exact proportion to the amount of gas 
removed. The difference amounts to only a few per cent and is greatest 
for high pressure. In the decline from 1,000 to 500 pounds per square 
inch the gas expands several per cent more than would be calculated by 
a strict application of the law and in a decline from 1,500 pounds to 1,000 
pounds the departure is still greater. The correction varies from field to 
field because of the different constitution of the gases, though since most 
natural gases consist largely of methane the variations on account of 
differences in gases are not great. 

“A fourth detail of refinement arises out of the fact that on the average 
more gas is marketed for 50 pounds of decline in pressure after the pres¬ 
sure has reached 100 pounds or less than an equal decline while the pres¬ 
sure is high, as, for example, 1,000 pounds per square inch. Also the ex¬ 
pense of marketing gas after the pressure has become low is greater than 
when it was high, largely because of the necessity of installing compres¬ 
sors to push the gas through the pipe lines to the consumers. These two 
considerations have a tendency to balance each other and, with certain 
exceptions, will not be of sufficient importance to warrant to apply the 
corrections. , 

Method of Gauging 

“In using the closed-pressure method of estimating depletion, the method 
of gauging is of vital importance and in many fields is not carried out with 
sufficient care. Care should be taken to make sure that the gauge is accu¬ 
rate, testing it before and after attaching it to the well. If it must be 




transported far or is subject to much jolting in transportation, a gauge 
tester should be taken along and used at the well. 

“Care should also be taken to empty the well of oil and water by pump¬ 
ing, blowing or siphoning before attaching the gauge, for any liquid in the 
hole will lower the closed pressure reading. 

“The well should be closed long enough to allow pressure to build up 
to its maximum. The length of time necessary for this purpose varies a 
great deal from field to field and well to well. The well should remain 
closed until the pressure will not build up more than 1 per cent in 10 min¬ 
utes. Ordinarily, 24 hours will be sufficient for this purpose, but for some 
wells several days or even a longer period will be required, owing to the 
slowness of equalization of pressure in the sand.” 


CHAPTER IV 


MODE OF ACCUMULATION 

Experience in oil fields has taught that oil may accumulate under cer¬ 
tain conditions in either synclines or anticlines. In the absence of water 
in synclines oil may move downward under the influence of gravitation to 
the bottom of the syncline. (See Fig. 4.) Of course it is not known 
whether the oil has migrated downward from the limbs of the syncline or 
the roof of the porous layer or been moved upward by capillarity to the 
bottom of the syncline from underlying beds of oil bearing shales, though 
it is doubtful that the latter would produce sufficient concentration. The 
essential conditions for oil accumulations are: First, a source of the oil 



Fig - . 2. A diagramatic cross section of an anticline showing’ the mode 
of occurrence of oil when no g-as is present. 

which may be a bituminous rock probably at no great distance from the 
point of accumulation. Second, a porous bed of rock which acts as a 
reservoir. This porous bed must be contained between impervious layers 
of rock. Third, the presence of flextures in the reservoir. In the absence 
of water in the reservoir the oil will collect in the downward folds (syn¬ 
clines), but if water is present no oil collects in the synclines but only in 
the anticlinal or upward folds as the oil advances to the highest point 


( 26 ) 
























































27 


occupied by the water which would be in the upper part of the anticline. 
From this point it would be impossible for the oil to advance as its pro¬ 
gress is checked by the impervious roof layer which dips down below the 
level occupied by the oil. 

Relation of Geological Structure to Oil and Gas Accumulation. Oil and 

gas are widely distributed in the rocks of the earth as is evident from 
their presence in rocks, in mines, in seeps, the water of springs and deep 
wells. But accumulations of oil and gas of economic importance are far 
less widely distributed since special geological conditions are necessary 
to the concentration of oil and gas in economic quantities. Oil and gas 
generated in some bituminous beds, rise under the agencies of migration 
and reach a porous bed as widely distributed particles, and are therefore, 
valueless, from an economic standpoint. The concentration of oil and gas 



Fig - . 3. A diagramatic cross section of an anticline, the most abundant 
type of oil bearing structure. In this anticline water, oil and gas 
are present arranged in the order of their specific gravities. The 
removal of the gas will permit the oil and water to rise higher 
toward the apex of the structure. 

can be brought about if certain geological structures are present in the 
porous bed containing the oil and the gas. The presence or absence of 
such concentrating structures may, in most cases, be determined by the 
geologist so that a knowledge of geology is fundamental to the develop¬ 
ment of the oil industry. 

Oil Sands. The rock in which the oil and gas accumulates is commonly 
termed the “oil sand” though it is often not a true sand but a porous rock 

















































28 


such as limestone. More commonly the oil accumulates in a porous sand, 
sandstone, or conglomerate, less commonly in porous limestone and very 
rarely in fissures in shales or in the cavities in igneous rocks. The quan¬ 
tity of oil possible in an oil sand will depend upon the degree of porosity 
of the sand which in turn depends upon the size and arrangement of the 
sand grains in the case of a true sand and on the size of the cavities in 
the case of a porous limestone. The pore space in compacted but un¬ 
cemented sands ranges as high as 25 per cent, in sandstones to 15 per cent 
and in conglomerates to as high as 32 per cent. The amount of pore-space 
produced by the size and the arrangement of the grains may be reduced 
by deposition of cement in the pores. 

Geological Structures Favorable to the Accumulation of Oil. There are 
certain structural conditions which are favorable to the accumulation of 
oil and gas. Such conditions may exist without the presence of oil or gas, 



Fig. 4. A diagram to show possible mode of accumulation of oil in a 
syncline. The sand is a dry sand, that is it does not contain any 
wate*\ Since the oil is free to move under the action of gravity it 
will sink to the lowest portion of the porous layer. 

but so far as is known, accumulations of oil or gas do not occur without 
the presence of such favorable structural conditions. Among the more 
favorable structures for the accumulation of oil and gas are: The anti¬ 
cline, monocline, structural terrace, dome, fault, joints, lenses, igneous in¬ 
trusions, and synclines. 

The Anticline. The anticline is an upward bend or fold in the rock 
strata which forms a trap which prevents the escape of the oil or gas 
















29 


when they have once penetrated it. The essential conditions for the ac¬ 
cumulation of petroleum in an anticline is the presence in the fold of a 
porous layer of rock enclosed between two layers of impervious rock. For 
example, a layer of porous sandstone between two layers of shale. The 
presence of water in the porous layer is also essential. If no gas is present, 
the oil will accumulate in the highest portion of the porous layer. (See 
figure 2.) The oil being of lighter specific gravity collects in the upper 
Part of the porous layer above the water. If gas be present, the three will 
arrange themselves in order of their specific gravities. (See figure 3.) 
The pressure of the gas in this case forces the oil and the water to the 
limbs of the anticline. With the escape of the gas the oil and the water 
would tend to rise in the porous layer and arrange themselves in order of 
their specific gravities. 



Fig - . 5. A diagramatic cross section of a salt dome structure favorable 
to the accumulation of oil. Soluble salts carried by ascending solu¬ 
tions are deposited under strata which are forced upward forming a 
dome. Oil passing upward along the fault plane accumulates in the 
porous deposit formed by the salts. 

Syncline. The presence of oil in downward folds of rocks called syn¬ 
clines, occurs under certain conditions. (See figure 4.) If no water is 
present in the porous layer, the oil under the influence of gravitation may 
be carried down to the bottom of the syncline and there remain, held in by 
impervious layers of rock above and below. Oil is obtained from synclines 
in Pennsylvania and Ohio. No oil has been obtained from such structures 
in Indiana. No dry oil reservoirs have been found as yet. 
































































30 


The Dome. The dome or salt dome is an anticlinal structure produced 
by accumulation of minerals under strata along the plane of a subsurface 
or a sealed fault. (See figure 5). Such structures are common in the 
Gulf Coastal Plain in the states of Louisiana and Texas. According to 
Harris 1 these domes are produced by water carrying minerals such as 
salt, gypsum, lime carbonate and magnesium carbonate in solution ascend¬ 
ing along a fault plane to a point beneath the surface where the minerals 
were deposited through the evaporation of the water. The accumulation 
of the mineral matter elevates the super-incumbent beds and the oil 
accumulates in porous beds of limestone or in sands overlying or tilted 
up against the salt core. Topographically these domes may form con¬ 
spicuous mounds on the flat prairies of the coast. Continual erosion of 



Pig. 6. A diagramatic cross section of a monocline showing a possible 
mode of oil accumulation. A slight irregularity in the direction of 
dip in the shale layer above the oil sand produces a condition which 
is favorable to the accumulation of oil. This irregularity may or 
may not express itself at the surface. 

the surface of the mound as the salt accumulates may bring deep seated 
beds of rock 900 feet or more nearer the surface than their normal posi¬ 
tion for that area. Numerous faults are produced by the doming and the 
oil and gas pass to the porous beds along these faults. A number of domes 
may be distributed along a major fault. 

The Monocline. Rock strata are often inclined in only one direction 
and form a monocline. That is they may pass from one horizontal posi- 


tHarris, G. D. Bui. La. Geol. Sur. No. 7, 1 DOS p. 75 et seq. 















31 


tion to another horizontal position or from one inclined position to another 
inclined ^position without reversing the direction of dip of the strata.' 
Under certain conditions monoclines afford favorable conditions for the 
accumulation of oil. (See figure 6.) The inclination of the beds is here 
greatly exaggerated and gives the impression of reversal of dip. Lenses 
of sand or sandstone enclosed in shales in monoclines furnish favorable 
conditions for oil concentration. 

The Structural Terrace. The structural terrace may be called a flattened 
monocline. The strata which are inclined pass to a horizontal position or 
from a greater to less degree of inclination and then back to the same 



Fig. 7. A diagramatic cross section of a structural terrace. Showing 
possible mode of accumulation of oil in the flattened portion of the 
structure when water is present in the oil bearing stratum. 

degree of inclination first assumed. (See figure 7.) In the horizontal 
portion the trap is formed and the oil accumulates if water be present in 
the porous layer. The structural terrace occurs in the Mississippian area 
of Indiana in probably more than one locality. There is one at least in 
Orange County and one in Martin County. Noses and shoulders which 
are modifications of the terrace occur in Jackson and Jennings Counties. 
In the latter one has produced some gas, though the drilling was not done 
in the most favorable spot and was done without reference to the structure. 

Lens Structure. Lenses of porus sand or sandstones inclosed in bitumi¬ 
nous shales may afford conditions favorable to the accumulation of oil 
and gas. (See figure 8.) The lenses may lie in a horizontal position or 






































32 


he inclined and still furnish the proper conditions for accumulation. Since 
such structures do not express themselves in any way at the surface and 
prospecting with the drill is the only method of determining the presence, 
size, or shape of the structures, the geologist can locate the position and 
probable extent of the enclosing shale bed, but cannot indicate the posi¬ 
tion of the lenses. Sandstones or sands with convex upper surfaces due 
to unconformable relation with overlying beds or to lenticular shape; or 
standstones with higher porosity in some parts than in others furnish 
adequate conditions for oil and gas accumulation when they are confined 
in impervious layers of rock. It is probable that such conditions exist in 
the Mississippian and Pennsylvanian strata of southwestern Indiana and 
that they are responsible for some of the oil and gas accumulations. 



Fig - . 8. A diagram showing a possible mode of accumulation of oil in 
lenses of sand enclosed in beds of shale. Such a structure may exist 
in the southwestern oil field in Indiana. 

Fault Structure. The occurrence of oil in connection with sealed faults 
is an established fact. The oil migrates upward along the fault plane 
until it reaches a porous bed so situated as to form a trap. (Figure 9.) 
Beds of bituminous shale and beds of standstone may be displaced in such 
a way as to throw shale bed against shale bed, thus sealing the fault. If 
a porous bed lying between impervious beds is faulted, in such a way as 
to form a trap, the accumulation of oil may result. In the case of a fault 
cutting a rising oil and gas bearing sand the fault may seal the sand in 
such a way as to prevent the upward movement of the oil and the gas 
and cause it to accumulate. The fault is sealed by bringing the broken 





























33 


end of the sand layer against a shale layer. Since prospecting is more 
hazardous in connection with faults than anticlinal folds, little testing of 
the former has taken place. Structures of this type may occur in connec- 
tion with the Mount Carmel fault in Indiana, but no tests have been made 
to determine whether they exist and are productive. There is little doubt 
that the fault is sealed because Knobstone shale has been faulted against 
Knobstone shale and sandstone layers are confined below. 

Joints. Oil has been known to accumulate in joints under certain condi¬ 
tions. The conditions are such that the joint virtually acts as the porous 
layer and must occupy a position between impervious layers and be so 
situated as to form a trap. (Figure 10.) The joint layer of rock in this 
case forms the reservoir. Such rocks are necessarily hard rocks, unyield¬ 
ing under pressure, and not exposed to the agents of cementation. Oil is 
found in joint cracks in some fields in California and in Colorado. Struc¬ 
tures of this type are not known to occur in Indiana. 



Fig-. 9. A diagram to show the mode of accumulation of oil on the 
upthrow side of a fault. A porous layer has been faulted against an 
impervious layer of shale in such a way as to seal the fault and 
produce a collecting ground for the oil near the fault line. 

Igneous Intrusions . 1 The vertical or nearly vertical intrusion of igneous 
rocks into sedimentary strata which contain beds of bituminous rocks may 
result in the accumulation of oil near the intrusion. (Figure 11.) The 
injection of the igneous rock causes an upturning of the sedimentary beds 
on the sides of the igneous core. The sealing of the end of the upturned 


‘Clapp, Econ. Geol. VII, 1912, 364. 



















<7T 



O . O* 0 * O 


o O 


? <?; o*. 

" 0 .° <L_\* Ci ^ 




' <= O ^ C7 » d> 

/=> o » . • c 

o ° o o o O 


0 ” O o' o _ Q - * _ 

O „ <? <> . <3. ^ <3 O “? 

® o ^ O.* ; o . 0*0 *rV* 

. ,4oa°o. *? 0 °. 0 . 

o „ . 0 . 0-^0 0 



Fig-. 10. A diagram to show possible method of accumulation of oil 
in the joints of rocks. This type of structure is not common. 



Fig'. 11. A diagram to show possible accumulation of oil in a structure 
produced by an igneous intrusion. The oil sand in this case may be 
either , of sedimentary or igneous origin. The igneous rock may be 
either primarily porous like cellular basalt or it may receive its 
porosity by alteration subsequent to its intrusion. 



























































































































































oil and gas reservoir provides conditions favorable to the accumulation or 
oil and gas. 

The sealing may be done by the igneous rock or by hydrothermal action 
of the porous bed, rendering it impervious. Oil seeps may reach the sur¬ 
face from the oil pools along fault planes produced during the upward 
bending of the beds. Structures of this type do not occur in Indiana as 
vulcanism has not expressed itself in the State. 

The geological structures favorable to the accumulation of oil and gas 
which may be encountered in Indiana are anticlinal, monoclinal, terrace, 
fault and lens structures. Oil bearing synclines are not likely to be present 
because of the abundance of water in the porous beds of rock. The other 
types of occurrence are associated with special conditions which do not 
exist in Indiana, 


CHAPTER V. 

PROSPECTING FOR OIL AND GAS 

The best equipment that an oil prospector can have is a thorough train¬ 
ing in the science of Geology. He must have a knowledge of the geological 
conditions of the field in which he is prospecting. This must include a 
knowledge of the nature of the rocks, not merely at the surface but to a 
considerable depth. This information he may obtain from surface out¬ 
crops, railroad cuts, stream courses, excavations, well records and geologi¬ 
cal reports. 



Fig - . 12. Diagram of an anticline represented by contours drawn on the 
surface of a bed of coal. Contour interval twenty feet. Position of 
the bed of coal determined by well records. 



Fig. 13. A cross section of the above anticline along the line A. B. C. D.E. 


( 30 ) 







































37 


He will need to have a knowledge of the age of the rocks since the 
occurrence of oil and gas in the oldest rocks of the earth has not been 
recorded. He will need to know that oil and gas are not found in igneous 
and metamorphic rocks, but are confined to sedimentary rocks. He will 
need to know further that certain kinds of sedimentary rocks are not 
likely to contain oil and gas. He will learn to look with favor upon rocks 
containing organic matter or rocks associated with rocks containing 
organic matter, evidence of which will be found in fossils, lignite, and 
prevailing dark colors. He will look with disfavor upon rocks with pre¬ 
vailing red or yellow color, because the oxidized condition of the iron 
compounds’points to the absence of organic matter. 

A knowledge of the structure of the rocks is essential because of its 
bearing on the accumulation of oil and gas. They accumulate in beds of 
porous rocks. If the rocks are dry the oil will accumulate in the lower 
part of the porous bed and the gas in the upper part, if water is present 
they will be arranged in the order of their specific gravities, with the gas 
at the top and the water at the bottom. It is obvious that if the porous 
rock were of uniform thickness and horizontal in position that there would 
be no concentration of oil and gas. At best there would be only a film of 
oil on the water. In other words, there must be irregularities of certain 
kinds either in the bedding or in the structure which will permit the con¬ 
centration of the oil and gas at one point. And so the prospector must be 
able to recognize such structures as anticlines, monoclines, synclines, 
terraces, and faults. 

If the anticline is small it may be determined frequently by direct 
observation. If the anticline is broad, or the degree of inclination is slight, 
other means of determination must be used. In some instances the struc¬ 
ture may be determined by locating upon the map the strike and the dip 
of the strata. The succession of the rocks should be carefully deter¬ 
mined then a layer of relatively hard rock which is continuous over a large 
area should be selected and the strike and the dip of this bed at many 
points be recorded on a map. By this means reverse dips will be indi¬ 
cated and the nature of the structure determined. 

The determination of the structure is often more difficult because of 
the slight degree, of dip or because it may be difficult to find a layer that 
is continuous over large areas and which may he relied upon as a key 
formation. In regions where the structure is sufficiently pronounced and 
where there are established elevations (bench marks) for comparison, the 
aneroid barometer may be used and the structure be worked upon the 
key rock. The key rock may be a bed of coal, (figure 12) or a layer of 
any persistent rock such as limestone or sandstone. The elevations of 
the key rock above sea level should be determined for the various parts of 
the area, and upon a map representing this area, the points of equal ele¬ 
vation should be joined. By drawing lines through points of equal eleva¬ 
tion for each ten or twenty feet of difference in elevation, the shape and 
the size of the structure may be exhibited. The elevations of the key rock 
may be determined at its outcrops by using a plane table and a telescopic 
alidade and stadia. In the absence of bench marks, they may be set by 
using plane table and stadia. The outcrops may then be located with 
aneroid barometer by checking frequently on the established bench marks. 


no 

oo 

Exploitation. The development of the oil and gas industry began with 
the drilling of the first well by Colonel Drake, on Oil Creek in Pennsyl¬ 
vania in 1859. Great progress has been made since that date in both 
methods and machinery. Haphazard methods by untrained men in small 
companies having little capital have given way to scientific methods prac¬ 
ticed by trained experts in power companies of large capital. No industry 
responds more readily to careful scientific methods than the oil and gas 
industry, for this reason the wise company employes trained men in each 



Fi&\ 14. Standard derricks. (111. Geol. Survey). 

of the various departments which are a necessary part of the industry. 
In the absence of a sufficient number of trained engineers some large com¬ 
panies have established apprenticeships for inexperienced men and paid 
them wages while training them for their positions. In the development 
of new oil territory much preliminary work must be done before the drilling 
can be begun. 





39 

Locating the Structure. Tlie first work in the new field falls to the 
Geologist. He is required to locate and to carefully map the geological 
structure. No wise company starts drilling operations until it has assur¬ 
ance that the geological conditions are favorable for the accumulation of 
oil. This assurance can only be given by some one thoroughly trained in 
the science of geology. There are pseudo-geologists, so-called practical 



Fig'. 15. A steel framed derrick. (Photo by Ill. Survey). 

geologists, who can lay small claim to any real knowledge of the science 
and such men have done much harm to the industry as well as discredit 
to the science. But so strongly intrenched has the science of geology 
become in the oil industry that some large companies keep in their employ 
more than one hundred geologists many of whom have attained high rank 
in the profession. 



40 


Securing Leases. After an oil company has determined the location or 
favorable geologic structure, leases covering the area are secured as 
rapidly as possible. The leases are in the nature of written agreements 
between the owner of the land and the oil company. The terms of such 
agreements vary greatly in different states and even in different parts of 
the same state. The lease gives a description of the land covered by the 
lease, duration of the lease, and states the compensation to be received by 
the lessor. The property is usually described by the quarter section, town 
and range. The time of the duration of the lease may be from one to five 
years with the option of extending the lease to cover the period of produc- 



Fig. 16. Standard drilling outfit, coupled for raising tools. (After 
Bowman, U. S. Geol. Survey.) 


A Derrick foundation posts. 
A 2 Mudsills. 

A 3 Subsill. 

A 4 Main sill. 

A 5 Derrick legs. H 
A" Derrick girts. ■ 

A' Derrick braces 
A 8 Ladder. 

A 9 Crown block. 

B Crown pulley. 1 
C : Dri ling Cab e. 

D Bull-wheel shaft. 

D 2 ,D 3 Bull wheels. 


D 4 Bull-wheel posts. 

D 3 Bull-wheel post brace. 
D 6 Bull rope. 

D 7 Bull-wheel brake band. 
E 1 Calf-wheel. 

E 2 Calf-wheel brake lever. 
F Sampson post 
G Walking beam. 

H Pitman. 

«T Temper screwA 
IK* Band Wheel.];] 

K -,Tug pulley.® 
Iv^Band-wheel crank. 


L 1 Sand-reel drum. 

L 2 Sand-reel pulley. 

M 1 Sand-reel lever. 

M 2 Sand-reel reach. 

M 3 Sand-reel handle. 

N 1 Sand-pump line. 

N 2 Sand-pump pulley. 

0 Calf-wheel posts. 

P 1 Throttle-valve wheel. 

P 2 Telegraph cord and throttle valve. 
P 3 Piod to reverse engine. 

Q Globe valve. 


tion. The lessor is paid one dollar to make the agreement legally binding. 
His further compensation may take the form of a fixed rental per acre 
such as one-fourth of one dollar per acre annually in wild cat territory to 
many hundreds of dollars in proven territory. The compensation may 
take the form of a royalty of one-twelfth, one-eighth, or one-sixth of the 
production. In exceptional good territory an additional bonus of $100 to 
$300 per acre may be paid. 














































41 


By the terms of some leases rentals do not begin until after the drilling 
of the first well which must occur before the expiration of a certain period, 
say two years. In leases providing for cash yearly rentals no provision is 
made for the completion of a w r ell; it generally being considered to the 
advantage of the operator to prove his territory as soon as possible so as 
to avoid payment of unproductive rentals. Some leases provide for the 
time of beginning and finishing the first well. 

The terms of the lease provide that the lessee shall have access to the 
land and the use of enough of the surface of the land for the establishing of 
his equipment and for conducting operations necessary to production. 
The lessor has the use of all land not necessary to the operations of the 
lessee. In the event of natural gas instead of oil being found on the prop¬ 
erty under lease, the owner of the property is protected by a clause in the 
lease which provides for the payment for the gas based on the number of 
cubic feet produced. Some leases provide for the payment of from $100 
to $150 per year per well to the land holder and free gas for his use. 

Locating the Wells. The location of the wells on the structure is a 
matter of considerable importance. The location of the first well should 
be chosen with care since a failure tends to condemn the entire structure. 
When gas and oil are present in an anticlinal structure, as gas, oil and 
water arrange themselves in the order of their specific gravities, gas may 
be expected in the highest portion of the porous stratum, oil farther down 
the dip and water still farther down the structure. 

Locations along the crest or apex of the anticline may, under such cir¬ 
cumstances yield gas and if oil is desired a location should be made farther 
down the dip. If gas is not present, oil may occupy the highest part of 
the porous layer and rest beneath the surface of the apex of the structure. 

If the first well is productive, the second well is located near the first 
following the supposed trend of the structure. The distance between the 
wells should be governed by the thickness and the porosity of the oil sand. 
If the oil sand is thin and porous, the wells may be placed further apart, 
say 1,000 to 1,500 feet. If the oil sand is thick and not very porous, the 
wells may be placed 500 feet apart or even less. Some operators place 
one well to every ten acres. In the drilling of deep wells much money is 
wasted by close placing of wells. 

Drilling Methods. Methods of drilling oil wells and the type of drill 
used varies with the depth of the wells, the character of the rocks pene¬ 
trated, and other conditions. For moderately shallow wells in soft strata 
the portable type of drill may be used. (See figure 18.) Such rigs are 
easily transported over rough roads and rapidly put down to depths not 
exceeding 1,200 feet, but wells have been put down to depths of 2,500 feet 
by the use of such rigs. 

The rig most in use for the drilling of deep wells is known as the 
“Standard” which consists of a derrick, with walking beam, bull wheel, 
cable with tools attached, and other accessories. (Figure 14.) The der¬ 
rick may be either a steel frame (Figure 15) or wood, but consists of four 
uprights converging toward the top and tied and braced at intervals with 
cross pieces. The height of the derrick is usually 70 or more feet, about 
20 feet wide at the bottom and fcur feet at the top. The bottom of the 


42 



Fig-. 17. Drilling tools. 1. Augur stem; 2, spudding bit; 3, drilling bit; 
4, bailer; 5, temper screw; 6, drilling jars; 7-8, underreamer, closed 
and open; 9, joint; 10, elevator, for lifting casing into derrick. (Lucey.) 



















43 


derrick rests upon large beams, rocks, or concrete and supports at the top, 
the crown block bearing the pulleys for the cables attached to the drill 
and sand pump. 

The cable, composed of manilla or wire is wound upon the shaft of the> 
bull wheel, while one end passes over the crown pulley at the top of the 
derrick and down to the end of the walking beam, to which the temper 
screw is attached by one end, the other end is clamped to the cable. 
(Figure 16.) To the end of the cable is attached the string of tools which 
consists of the rope socket, sinker bar, jars, auger stem, and auger. (Fig¬ 
ure 17.) The walking beam is pivoted at the middle to an upright post 
and is attached by a pitman rod to a crank on the band wheel. The motion 
of the band wheel moves the walking beam up and down alternately lift¬ 
ing and dropping the auger and string of tools in the bore. As the bore 
is deepened the temper screw (Figure 18) is turned until the bore has in¬ 
creased in depth a full screw length, about five feet, when the temper 
screw is unclamped from the cable, the latter is wound on the bull wheel 
shaft and the tools are lifted from the well. The well is then bailed by 
lowering a sand pump or a bailer into the well by a line passing over the 
sand-reel pulley, allowing it to fill and elevating it to the surface by the 
same line. The bailer consists of a cylindrical body of galvanized iron 
with a bail at the top and a stem valve at the bottom. When the stem 
rests on the bottom of the bore it raises the valve and allows the bailer to 
fill, but when lifted from the bottom the valve drops into place and the 
water and drillings are carried to the surface and allowed to escape as 
the stem of the valve rests on the bottom of the water trough. 

An engine and boiler are necessary to furnish power to the drill, the 
engine being connected to the band wheel by a belt. The fuel used for 
the boiler may be coal, oil or gas. Water for the boiler may be supplied 
from wells, springs, streams, or ponds. 

Drive Pipe and Casing. Whenever a well is started in loose rock such 
as glacial drift or forms of mantle rock, a large iron pipe called drive pipe 
is forced through the mantle rock, following the drill and set on the solid 
bed rock. This pipe prevents caving of the soft strata and keeps water 
out of the drill hole. If, during the process of drilling, a porous layer is 
encountered, containing water under pressure, it may be necessary to 
lower the string of casing inside the drive pipe and set it on an impervious 
layer below the water bearing layer in order to shut out the water. If 
other water bearing layers are encountered, other strings of casings must 
be lowered. In deep wells it is often necessary to have eight or ten differ¬ 
ent sizes of casings, starting with an 18-inch casing and ending with a 
2-inch. 

Cost of Oil Wells. The cost of an oil well varies with a number of 
factors, such as depth, character of rock, accessability to fuel, transporta¬ 
tion conditions and others. The cost of work preliminary to the actual 
drilling is the same regardless of the depth of the well, providing the same 
type of rig is used for both shallow and deep wells. The cost of actual 
drilling per foot increases with the depth. The light portable rig which 
may be used to advantage in Indiana in drilling wells ranging up to 1,200 


Fig-. 18. 
screw. 



A, String- of tools used witl> standard drilling- outfit; 
(After Bowman, U. S. G. S.) 


, temper 



































































































45 


or 1,500 feet in depth and has been used in wells as deep as 2,400 feet, cost 
$2,500 to $3,000. The Standard rigs because of the construction of the 
derrick, cost much more. The cost of wells having depths ranging from 
800 to 1,000 feet is from $2,000 to $2,500. Wells of twice those depths, cost 
from $6,000 to $8,000. Drillers usually contract to drill a well to a certain 
depth at so much per foot for the drilling and installing the casing, which 
is to be furnished by the owner of the well. The cost of casing varies from 
$1 per foot for the smaller sizes to $3.50 per foot for the larger sizes. In 
the glaciated regions of Indiana the largest tubing, the so-called drive pipe, 
must extend the full thickness of the glacial drift and be set on the solid 
bed rock. The length of the drive pipe in this region varies from a few 
feet to more than four hundred feet. In the non-glaciated region except 
in the alluvial bottoms of rivers the drive pipe rarely exceeds one section 
of pipe. 

A written contract is usually made between the driller and the operator. 
This contract binds the driller to drill to a certain depth for a certain 
specified sum per foot; to furnish all necessary equipment; to begin drill¬ 
ing within a certain specified period; to install the casing and to pull it in 
case of a dry hole. It binds the operator to furnish on the ground the 
drive pipe, casing, rodding, tubing and other accessories except such as 
are a part of the drilling equipment; he also allows the driller the use for 
fuel the oil or gas which exists or may be found in drilling. 

Abandoning a Well. If a well is dry or the production too light to be 
profitable and the well is to be abandoned it must be plugged. The laws 
of Indiana provide that before the casing can be drawn from a well and 
abandoned, the nearest State Gas Inspector shall be notified and his pres¬ 
ence secured. Under his direction the casing may be drawn and the well 
plugged. 

Shooting Oil Wells. If after an oil well has reached pay sand the oil 
does not flow freely into the well as it is not likely to do in case of a 
close-textured rock it becomes necessary to shoot the well. Shooting is 
accomplished by lowering to the position of the oil sand a charge of 
nitroglycerine in cannisters. The amount of nitroglycerine used will 
depend upon the texture of the rock, the thickness of the pay sand, danger 
of flooding and other factors. The amount ordinarily used is from 60 to 
100 quarts but the amount may be more or less. The explosive may be 
exploded by placing a fulminate cap on the charge in the well and dropping 
a conical iron, the “go-devil” upon it or by dropping a nitroglycerine 
“jack squib” bearing a fulminate cap upon the charge in the well (Fig. 22). 
Care must be taken not to get the charge below the pay sand because of 
the danger of flooding or of getting it above the pay sand in which case 
the shattered barren rock may interfere with production. 

Pumping Oil Wells. When oil exists in the oil sand under great pressure 
it may be forced to the surface and a flowing well produced. Even a 
flowing well by decrease of pressure may cease to flow and require pump¬ 
ing. Some wells require pumping from the start. Wells may be pumped 
by separate power units or by central power units. A very common prac¬ 
tice is to connect a number of wells, say.six, with a central power plant 


46 



Fig - . 21. View of an oil field in Indiana. (Amer. Inst. Min. Engineers.) 



Fig'. 22. Broad Ripple oil well softer shooting. 















47 



Fig - . 19. Standard pumping jack. 



Fig. 20. Steel pumping jack. (Ill. Geol. Survey.) 








48 


by means of rods which are attached at the well to pumping “jacks” which 
transform the horizontal pull of the rods into vertical movement of the 
pump rods in the well. (Figs. 19 and 20.) 

Oil Transportation. The most efficient method of oil transportation is 
by pipe line, pipes laid underground through which oil is pumped. Pipe 
lines now carry oil from the mid-continental field to the Atlantic Coast. 
The pipe of the main lines have a diameter of eight inches and the feeders 
from three to six inches. Pumping stations are distributed at intervals 
along the main lines. Oil is also transported from the oil field to the 
refineries by tank cars and tank ships. Some oils, like certain Mexican 
oils, are too dense to be transported long distances through pipes and 
such oils are transported in tank cars or tank ships. 

Oil Storage. Oil as it is brought from the wells, must be stored in tanks 
at least temporarily. If the oil field is near the refinery it may be pumped 
through pipe lines and kept moving from the field thus necessitating only 
temporary storage. When the field is located at a distance from the 
refinery and the means of transportation is by tank cars, large storage 
facilities are a necessity. Storage tanks are built of iron, wood or 
concrete, in cases of emergency reservoirs of earth, have been made. 
Tanks may be placed above or below ground. In some of the oil fields 
concrete tanks placed below ground are being constructed. Less 
evaporation and greater safety from fires, especial fires caused by light¬ 
ning, are the claims made for them. The approximate dimensions of 
tanks of various capacity are given below: 

Capacity in Barrels. Height in Feet. Diameter in Feet. 

5,000 20 40 


10,000 

20,000 

30,000 

55,000 


30 

30 

30 

30 


49-7/12 


70 

86 

115 


The gauging tanks tange in size from 25 to 100 barrels and the oil is 
measured in these before being pumped to the storage tanks. 



legend 

Oil Areas 

/* *• 

* * 

• Gas Areas 

B R Refineries 

























































































































































































































































. . .. ' ! 

' ' 







































49 



Fig - . 24. Structural map of Indiana, contours drawn on Trenton 

































































































































































































CHAPTER VI 


GENERAL GEOLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN INDIANA 

« 

The general geological conditions of Indiana are not complex. The rocks 
belong to the sedimentary division. The only rocks of igneous origin 
known in the State are the boulders which were carried into the State 
from the crystalline belt of rock lying far to the north. During a great 
part of the time that the rocks of Indiana were being deposited the sea 
occupied the whole or a part of the State. In this sea the fragments of 
disintegrated rocks of former ages were deposited to contribute to the 
strata which were later to form the surface of the State. The movement 
which was to convert the marine Indiana into dry land began on the 
eastern border and extended across the state northwesterly. Because of 
this differential uplift the southwestern and the northeastern corners of 
the State were the last portions to emerge from a gradually retreating 
sea. Though it is possible the emergence of the northeast corner may 
have antedated that of the southwest. (See next page for table.) 

Potsdam Sandstone. The oldest rock reached by the drill in Indiana is 
a sandstone which is probably of the age of the Potsdam sandstone of the 
Cambrian period. Oil or gas has not been found in this formation in this 
or in the neighboring States. The formation does not outcrop at any point 
within the State. Wells have penetrated it to a depth of 300 feet without 
passing through it. 

Lower Magnesian Limestone. Overlying the Potsdam sandstone is a 
limestone which is thought to be of the age of the Lower Magnesian. No 
outcrop of the formation occurs within the State. Its thickness as re¬ 
corded in well records is about 300 feet. It is thought to be equivalent in 
age to the Calciferour of the New York section. 

St. Peter’s Sandstone. A number of deep wells in Indiana have passed 
through the Trenton limestone and pierced a stratum of sandstone which 
has been referred to the St. Peter’s. The thickness of the sandstone as 
revealed by well records varies from 150 to 300 feet. It is thought to be 
equivalent in age to the Chazy of New York. 

Trenton Limestone. Overlying the St. Peter’s sandstone is a limestone 
which has been the source of the larger part of the oil and gas produced 
in the State. Portions of the upper part of the limestone have been ren¬ 
dered porous by dolomitization and where the structural conditions of the 
formation have been favorable oil or gas has been collected in these porous 
portions. The thickness of the Trenton limestone varies from 470 to 586 
feet. 


( 50 ) 


51 


I ho geological formations which outcrop at the surface or have been 
revealed in deep wells in Indiana are given in the accompanying table. 1 


Area 
Cenozoic.... 


Paleozoic 


GEOLOGICAL SECTION OF INDIANA 


Periou Epoch 

f /Recent. 

J Quaternary./Pleistocene. 

(Tertiary.Pliocene?. 

( _ {Allegheny. 

Pennsylvanian.f 

(Pottsville. 


Formation 

Alluvium, residual clays. 
.Glacial drift. 

Gravels (Lafayette?). 

Mcrom sandstone. 

Coal measures, coal, shale, etc. 

Mansfield sandstone. 


Mississippian 


Devonian 


Unconformity 


Chester. ._.limestones, sandstones and shales. 

IbC Genevieve./Mitchel limestone. 

| St. Louis.) 

| Salem.Salem limestone. 

I (Harrodsburg (Warsaw) limestone. 

I Osage./Knobstone shales. 

I.Rockford (Goniatite) limestone. 

U nconformity. 

(New Albany shale. 

I Sellersburg limestone. 

.Cornifcrous.1 (Silver Creek limestone. Beachwood). 

(Geneva (Jeffersonville limestone). 


Umonlormity 


Silurian 


Un'on'orm ry. 


| 

Ordovician.Cincinnatian 


(Cambrian 


(Louisville limestone. 

| Waldron shale, 
j Laurel limestone. 

I Osgood limestone and shale. 
(Brassfield. 


Elkhorn. 

Whitewater sh. and Ls. 
Richmond.. . ./Saluda, sh. and ls. 

Liberty, limestone. 
Waynesville, Sh. and Is. 
Arnheim, shale. 

Mt. Auburn, Is. 

I Maysvillc. . . . j Corryville, ls. 

Bellevue, Sh. Ls. Ss. 
Fairmount, sh. and Ls. 
Mt. Hope, sh. and Is. 

I McMicken, sh. and ss. 

Eden.1 Southgate, sh. ss. Is. 

) Economy 
(Fulton. 

Trenton limestone. 

St. Peters sandstone. 

Magnesian limestone. 

Potsdam sandstone. 


'For more complete discussions of tlie subdivisions represented in this table 
see reports by Ashley, Cummings, Foerste, Newsom, Price, Siebenthal, and 
others published in the Annual Reports of the Survey. For the sub¬ 
divisions of the Chester see paper on “The American Bottoms,” Indiana 
Studies, by C. A. Malott. 

































52 



Fig. 25. Public road in the “Knobstone” formation near New Albany. 

Photo by Hohenberger. 







Cincinnatian. The group of limestones, shales and sandstones overlying 
the Trenton are usually referred to as the Utica and Hudson River shales 
in report pertaining to the oil industry of the State. These formations 
outcrop in the southeastern part of the State and they have been studied 
and their lithological and paleontological characters determined. The total 
thickness of the strata of this group is about 700 feet. 

Silurian Strata. The formations belonging to the Silurian in Indiana 
consist chiefly of limestones with thin layers of calcareous shales. In the 
records of oil wells they are commonly referred to under the head, “Ni¬ 
agara limestone.” Over much of the oil and gas territory in the eastern 
part of Indiana the first stratum of the durolith (bed rock) encountered 
by the drill is the Silurian limestone. The Silurian strata outcrop in the 
southeastern portion of the State and in .the eastern portion where erosion 
has removed the glacial drift. The divisions represented in southern Indi¬ 
ana are: Brassfield limestone (Medina), the Osgood limestones and shales, 
the Laurel limestone, the Waldron shale and the Louisville limestone. 
The thickness of the Silurian in southern Indiana varies from 95 to 140 
feet. The Waterlime is supposed to be represented in northern Indiana 
and the Schoharie by the Pendleton sandstone. 

Devonian Strata. The lower portion of the Devonian consists of the 
Jeffersonville, the Silver Creek and the Sellersburg limestones. These 
outcrop in Clark, Jennings and other counties in the southern part of the 
State where they attain a total thickness of about ninety feet. In the well 
records these limestones are usually referred to as the Corniferous, though 
they are probably largely Hamilton. In many places it is sufficiently 
porous to allow the accumulation of oil and gas where structural condi¬ 
tions are favorable and some oil and gas production in Indiana is derived 
from the Corniferous. Above the Devonian limestone lies a black bitumin¬ 
ous shale called the “New Albany” which is supposed to be of equivalent 
age to the Genessee of the New York section. 

Mississippian Strata. The lowermost division resting on the New Albany 
is the Goniatite or Rockford limestone, a thin stratum, often only two feet 
thick, greenish color on fresh fracture but weathers brown. Overlying the 
Rockford is the New Providence shale member which is followed by the 
Knobstone shales and sandstones, containing some lenses of limestone. 
The term, Riverside sandstone was applied by Foerste to a sandstone in 
the Knobstone. The Knobstone sandstones frequently contain pockets of 
gas and there is reason to believe they may form oil reservoirs. The thick¬ 
ness of the Knobstone varies from 530 to 650 feet. The Harrodsburg (War¬ 
saw) limestone overlies the Knobstone. The line of contact is marked by 
a large quantity of quartz geodes. The crystals in the interior of the 
geodes are usually quartz but in some calcite. This member consists of 
thin bedded limestofie and shales. The limestones are irregularly bedded, 
very fossiliferous, contain chert, stylolites and coarsely crystalline calcite. 
Its thickness is from 60 to 90 feet. The Salem furnishes the Indiana oolitic 
building stone. It occupies in its outcrop, a narrow strip extending from 
Putnam County to Harrison County, the main quarry district being located 


f>4 



Fig. 26. An Oolitic (Salem) limestone quarry. The overburden which has been removed is 
Mitchell limestone. The first cut is being made in the upper surface of the Salem. 















Fig’. 27. Cave in Mitchell limestone in Harrison County. Caves and 
underground water courses are abundant in this limestone in Indiana 
and Kentucky. (Photo by Hohenberger.) 

in Lawrence and Monroe Counties. The limestone occurs in a massive 
bed usually varying in thickness from 30 to 90 feet. The stone is a fine 
grained limestone, the grains being composed of shells or fragments of 
shells. It is generally recognized by its massiveness and granular (so 
called oolitic) structure. 

The Mitchell is composed chiefly of limestone with some thin beds of 
shale in its upper horizon. It is a harder limestone than the oolitic and 



50 



Fig - . 28. An outcrop of Mansfield sandstone showing- differential 
weathering-, the more resistant parts are cemented with iron oxides. 
This forms one of the oil sands of southwestern Indiana. (Photo by 
P. B. Stockdale.) 

is used much for road material. The individual beds of the limestone vary 
from two to thirty feet in thickness. Some of the layers of the upper 
portion contain inclusions of chert. Fine grained, lithographic stone is 
present in some horizons. The thickness of the Mitchell varies from 150 
to 200 fee-t. 

The Chester is composed of a series of sandstones, limestones and 
shales. The sandstones become oil reservoirs in southwestern Indiana, a 
portion of the oil production of that region being derived from them. Some 






57 


of the shales of the Chester are oil-bearing though they do not form reser¬ 
voirs. Some of the limestones are of an oolitic character and some are 
lithographic. The sandstones are fine grained and are usually distinguish¬ 
able from the coarser grained Mansfield. 

Pennsylvanian Strata. A long period of erosion preceded the deposition 
of the Pennsylvanian rocks, and the surface of the Mississippian upon 
which the Pottsville rocks were deposited was very irregular. The Potts- 
ville division is represented by beds of shale, thin beds of coal and a coarse 
sandstone, the Mansfield. The latter is often conglomeratic and in some 
places contains irregular masses of limonite. The Mansfield sandstone 
becomes an oil reservoir in the southwestern part of the State. Many of 
the shales associated with the coals of the Pottsville are oil bearing. There 
is an unconformity between the Pottsville and Allegheny divisions in Indi¬ 
ana which in some places is well marked. 

Coal Measures. The rocks of the Allegheny division consist of shales, 
coals, limestones and sandstones. Many of the shales are oil bearing under 
destructive distillation. The sandstones furnish reservoirs in which oil 
and gas have accumulated at points where structural conditions are favor¬ 
able. Many of the productive sands in Gibson and Pike Counties belong 
to the Coal Measures. 

Merom Sandstone. This sandstone rests unconformably upon the Coal 
Measures in some places occupying erosion channels carved in the rocks of 
the Coal Measures. This sandstone is conglomeratic in its basal portions 
in some localities. 

Tertiary. Some gravel beds which occur in southern Indiana consisting 
chiefly of chert and flint gravels with geodes probably belong to the Plio¬ 
cene epoch of the Tertiary Period. 

Quaternary. The Pleistocene or glacial deposits cover a large part of 
the surface of Indiana. There is an area in the southern part of the State 
lying south of the north line of Monroe County where the two lobes of the 
Illinoian glacier did not coalesce that was not glaciated. The deposit of 
glacial drift reaches a thickness of more than 400 feet in places. The 
presence of the drift has greatly interfered with the development of the 
oil and gas industry since it concealed the outcrop of the durolith and 
prevented the determination of structural conditions by direct observa¬ 
tion. The strata of the Cincinnati geanticline are buried under the drift 
and its minor structural irregularities concealed. 

The Recent deposits consist of residual clays, loam and soils formed 
from the decomposition of the durolith, alluvial deposits of the stream 
valleys, dunes of wind blown sand and marl and peat deposits. 

Structural Features of Indiana. The major structural features of Indiana 
are comprised in the Cincinnati geanticline, the noithein basin, the westein 
basin and the Mount Carmel Fault. 

The Cincinnati Geanticline which extends northward in Ohio sends off 
an arm which passes through Indiana in a noi thwestei ly diiection. I he 
movement which inaugurated the arching took place duiing the Oidovician 



period and continued until the close of the Carboniferous Period but while 
the movement resulted probably in land condition being produced in south¬ 
ern Ohio, the effect in Indiana was the production of a sub-marine ridge 
on the slopes and across the top of which the sediments of later periods 
were deposited. This ridge formed the dividing line between a basin on 
the north and one on the southwest. The younger rocks dip away from 
the ridge toward these basins. Sediments of Cambrian and Ordovician 
age were deposited on the eroded Pre-Cambrian surface before the eleva¬ 
tion of the Cincinnati Arch. Through well records we learn that below 
the Trenton limestone which has a thickness of 500 or more feet there 
lies a sandstone which probably corresponds to the St. Peter’s sandstone 
which outcrops in Wisconsin. Its thickness varies from 150 to 300 feet. 
That below the sandstone there is a limestone which probably corresponds 
in age to the Lower Magnesium limestone which has a thickness of about 
300 feet and rests on the Potsdam sandstone which has a thickness of 
more than 300 feet. The Potsdam sandstone belongs to the Cambrian 
period and is the oldest rock known to occur in situ in Indiana. 

The Northern Basin. The center of the northern basin lies north of 
Indiana about Bay City, Michigan. The southern limit of the basin is the 
Cincinnati Arch which passes across the State in a northwesterly direction. 
The sediments deposited in this basin range in age from the Silurian to 
and including the Coal Measures of the Pennsylvanian. It is very probable 
that the sediments of these formations were continuous across the arch 
at one time, but if so, they have been removed by erosion as only the 
Silurian rocks now rest below the drift and overlie the Ordovician on the 
top of the Arch. The dip of the strata from the top of the Arch northward 
is gentle at first not exceeding ten feet to the mile but the dip increases 
until it reaches thirty or more feet to the mile. 

The Southwestern Basin. This basin has its center in southern Illinois 
toward which the formations laid down on the western and southern flanks 
of the Cincinnati Arch dip. The dip of the formations varies from thirty 
to fifty feet to the mile, perhaps in a few places exceeding fifty feet. The 
total thickness of the sediments deposited in this basin in Indiana on top 
of the Trenton is probably as much as 3,500 feet. 

The Mount Carmel Fault. Early in the fall of 1916 the attention of the 
writer was attracted to a reversal of dip in some beds of limestone lying 
in eastern part of Monroe County. In places, this reversal of dip was 
noticeable in the limestones which overlie the Knobstone shales and sand¬ 
stones, in other places in the sandstones of the Knobstone and again in 
beds of limestone occupying certain horizons in the Knobstone. Upon an 
investigation of the available geological literature I found in the Report 
of the State Geologist for 1896, pages 390-91, that Siebenthal discusses the 
Heltonville Limestone Strip as follows: “Commencing at Limestone Hill, 
eight miles southeast of Bloomington and extending east of southeast 
through Heltonville to, and probably beyond Fort Ritner, Lawrence County, 
is a band of limestone from one-half to one and a half miles in width, bor¬ 
dered sharply, both east and west, by Knobstone, and known in that neigh¬ 
borhood as the Limestone Strip. Isolated patches of similar limestone 


r>o 


occur north of this strip and in line with it. The strip is well developed 
in the vicinity of Heltonville, Lawrence County, where it gives exposures 
of the Harrodsburg, Bedford Oolitic and Mitchell limestones.” 

At many points the Knobstone contains intercalated lenticular beds of 
limestone, and it is possibly conceivable that the conditions which pre¬ 
vailed while these beds were being deposited might have been extended 
over a narrow territory like the Heltonville strip. However, the fact, first 
that Knobstone has not been found overlying this limestone, and second, 
that it shows the lithological facies of the Harrodsburg, the Bedford Oolitic 
and the Mitchell limestones, and the faunas of these formations, identifies 
it with them and shows conclusively that it is a narrow band of these form¬ 
ations, occupying a depression in the Knobstone, and not an included 
member of the Knobstone. 

This depression may have resulted from a double fault or may be an 
old erosion channel. Some things seem to point to one as the origin and 
some to the other. The facts at hand incline us to the latter view. The 
most palpable objection to this view is the fact that no nonconformity 
exists between the Knobstone and the Harrodsburg limestone at their 
contact a few miles west of the strip. Another objection is that the bottom 
of the channel, at present at least, is not all of uniform elevation through¬ 
out its length. The principal objections to the view of a double fault are 
two—at no point was a direct vertical contact of Knobstone and limestone 
visible, nor was there to be seen any of the tilting, crushing and shattering 
which usually accompanies faulting. On the other hand, as the vicinity of 
the contact line is approached the shaly layers of the limestone become 
more and more argillaceous and apparently pass over into the Knobstone. 
To determine the exact conditions under which the limestone strip was 
laid down would require more extended study than is consistent with the 
scope of this report. What has been done was to trace upon the accom¬ 
panying maps the outcrop of the Bedford Oolitic and to examine the bed 
more carefully at places where it is now being quarried, namely at Helton¬ 
ville and Fort Ritner.” 

In the proceedings of the Academy of Science of Indiana for 1897, page 
262, J. A. Price discusses the boundary of the limestone strip and says in 
conclusion: “It is not possible, from data in hand, to say surely whether 
this strip of limestone owes its existence to an unconformity or a fault.” 

In 1903 J. F. Newsom published a description of a “Geologic Section 
Across Southern Indiana” as a part of the 26th Annual Report of the State 
Geologist. On pages 274 and 275 Newsom refers to the structure as a 
fault in the Knobstone area. He gives its extent as being from near Union- 
ville in Monroe County to a point in the northern part of Washington 
County. 

In referring to the discussions of Siebenthal and Price in the 27th An¬ 
nual Report of the State Geologist, 1903, on page 90, Ashley says: “It is 
evident that if the limestone strip north of White River is due to a fault 
its effects should continue* to the south rather than turn and follow the 
outcrop. A glance at the map in the region north of Campbellsburg is 
alone sufficient proof of the fault character of the disturbance.” 

In studying this structure in detail the writer has found that it is much 
more extensive than Newsom stated; that there is a second fault; that 


00 


other disturbances were connected with it and that the actual contact 
which he has found presents some interesting features. 

Extent of the Fault. While I have not yet been able to trace the fault 
to the borders of the State at either of its extremities I have been able to 
trace it far beyond its mentioned boundaries and feel confident that the 
particular disturbance under discussion extended from the Ohio to the 
Wabash along the western border of the Knobstone outcrop and perhaps 
beyond. Tracing the fault south of Campbellsburg in Washington County 
is difficult because the area on each side of the rift is occupied by lime¬ 
stone. 

Along the northern end of the displacement glacial deposits conceal the 
bedrock to such an extent as to render observation difficult. Under these 
circumstances the best that can be done is to trace the disturbance by the 
reversal of dip of the limestones, as the finding of the rift will be extremely 
difficult. By such observations as it was possible to make I have traced 
the disturbance from a point southeast of Campbellsburg in Washington 
County to a point northwest of Waveland in Montgomery County. 

Rift. The actual contact of the rocks along the fault plane is revealed 
in only a few places. There are numerous places where the harder more 
resistant stratum of limestone stands forth like a wall on one side of the 
rift, but the opposite side is occupied by mantle rock which was derived 
by the weathering of the Knobstone and which conceals the actual rift. 
Excavations made at such places would doubtless reveal the actual con¬ 
tact of the limestone and the Knobstone. 

In a few localities the rift is exposed and the plane of the fault is bor¬ 
dered on the one side with limestone and on the other by shale. One out¬ 
crop of the rift zone was found in the bed of the north fork of Leatherwood 
Creek near Heltonville. At this point the Knobstone occurs on one side of 
the fault plane and the Harrodsburg limestone on the other. The line of 
rift is distinct, being marked by a thin bed of breccia. The brecciated zone 
is composed mainly of fragments of limestone in which small fragments of 
shale are intermingled. These fragments have been cemented together 
with calcite and the whole zone more or less marbleized. In a cross-section 
of the brecciated rock the veins of calcite stand out clearly, as they are 
whiter than the fragments of limestone and shale which they bind to¬ 
gether. Small quantities of other minerals are present in some parts of 
the brecciated zone, but there is an absence of the more insoluble minerals, 
such as silica or the silicates. This fact leads to the conclusion that 
meteoric rather than thermal waters have played the leading role in the 
concentration of these minerals. 

Periods of Movement. The question of whether the displacement took 
place all at one time or was intermittent is an interesting one. All of my 
attempts to find an evidence of intermittent movement by an examination 
of surface features have been unsuccessful. If there were intermittent move¬ 
ments of any considerable extent we would probably find them revealed 
in hanging valleys on the upthrow side and the rapid broadening of valleys 
on the downthrow side of the fault. In case there were two stages of 
movement, and the movement in the last stage an exceedingly slow one, 


fit 


th6 vertical cutting of the main stream might be as rapid as the uplift, 
but still the 1 ejuvenation of the tributaries should result in a narrowing 
of the valleys. In the rift zone there is evidence of two stages of move¬ 
ment though the amount of displacement in the second stage is slight. 
The time interval between the two movements was of considerable length, 
since the fragments of the brecciated zone were firmly cemented before 
the second movement took place. Fragments of shale which were in¬ 
cluded in the limestone fragments during the first movement were faulted 
by the second movement. These shale inclusions would not have under¬ 
gone faulting had they not been held rigidly in place by the cementing 
material. 

Amount of Throw. The amount of throw of the fault varies probably 
from 200 to 300 feet. Opportunities for measuring the amount of throw 
are not numerous. It can best be computed by estimating the total amount 
of eastward dip of the formations along the line of contact between the 
Harrodsburg and the Knobstone. At a point south of Mt. Carmel the dif¬ 
ference in elevation of the contact above sea level is 50 feet in a distance 
of one-fourth mile. Since the width of the down-thrown block is at least 
one mile and a half in this locality the throw of the fault is at least 300 
feet. The amount of dip of the down-thrown beds in other localities Is 
less than at this point, so much less that the indicated throw is not more 
than 200 feet. 

Age of the Fault. The time at which the dislocation occurred can not be 
fixed definitely. It is probable that it occurred at the close of the Paleo¬ 
zoic Era when the Appalachian revolution which resulted in the elevation 
of the eastern part of North America took place. Contemporaneous with 
or subsequent to that great epeirogenic movement, faulting and minor 
folding took place in Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, and other States lying as 
far west as these from the region of maximum disturbance. These faults 
like the one under discussion have a northwest disturbance. 

The Heltonville Fault. About one mile west of the Mt. Carmel fault 
there is a second fault. This I have named the Heltonville Fault because 
the rift is exposed a short distance east of Heltonville in the bed of the 
north fork of Leatlierwood Creek, at a point just east of the wagon-crossing 
under the Southern Indiana railroad. This fault lies approximately paral¬ 
lel with the Mt. Carmel fault. The limestone has been faulted down 
against the Knobstone. Slickenslides have been produced in the limestone 
and it has been much fractured. In places the limestone has been thrust 
backward and fragments of the Knobstone shales have been thrust into 
the limestone. In places these formations are dovetailed, fingers of lime¬ 
stone projecting into the Knobstone and vice versa as first one and then 
the other yielded to the pressure. The fragments of limestone containing 
inclusions of shale have been united by calcite veins. 

Though the fault character of the disturbance at this point is incon¬ 
testable it is not equally clear at other points. The disturbance extends 
both north and south of this point, but it probably passes into a fold in 
both directions. In Monroe County near Unionville there is an anticline 
which occupies about the same position in relation to the Mt. Carmel fault 


62 


as the Heltonville fault does. Similar folds have been noted at intervening 
points and also to the south of Heltonville. 

Effect Upon Topography. The general effect upon topographic condi¬ 
tions within the area of disturbance has been to produce a narrow lime¬ 
stone belt extending parallel with the main Knobstone outcrop and bor¬ 
dered on each side by outcrops of Knobstone. In the southern portion of 
the faulted area the western belt of Knobstone is absent, but its nearness 
to the surface along the line of the eastward reversal of dip is revealed in 
the channels of many streams which have carved their valleys at right 
angles to the line of reversal. Probably the most marked effect is on the 
drainage. Both surface and underground drainage lines are affected. In 
the faulted area the ground waters which have found their way through 
the limestone have a tendency to follow the eastward sloping surface of 
the Knobstone to the rift, and near this point often come to the surface 
in a stream valley which lies near the rift and generally parallel with it. 
This tendency of the underground streams is modified by local dips of 
the strata north or south. 

The surface streams, especially those along the line of the fault plane, 
have been influenced by the displacement. They have worked off the 
harder limestones on to the Knobstone in many places. These follow the 
line of rift until a local north or south dip has caused them to change the 
direction of their course. Small tributaries of the larger cross-cutting 
streams have developed, as has been noted again and again, along the line 
of rift. 

The Mount Carmel Fault is one of the most important structural fea¬ 
tures in Indiana. It extends from near the Ohio River northward to the 
north part of Putnam County and possibly extends in a westerly and north¬ 
westerly direction from that point to the western boundary of the State. 
The extent of its throw in places exceeds two hundred feet. In a general 
way it parallels the western limits of the Knobstone outcrop. The down- 
thrown side is west of the fault line. The faulting and the subsequent 
erosion has resulted in a limestone belt bordered on the east and west by 
Knobstone, the limestone being on the down throw side and thus protected 
from the erosion which caused the removal of the limestone of the same age 
lying at a higher elevation both east and west. Since the normal dip of the 
rocks is southwest the downward drop of the block toward the east re¬ 
sulted in a fold lying parallel with the fault plane to the west. As the 
fault changes its directions in some places north and south components of 
dip are produced in the fold at such places and conditions favorable for the 
accumulation of oil and gas produced. One such place occurs in Lawrence 
County and considerable gas and a showing of oil obtained west of Lees- 
ville. Another favorable structure exists near Unionville in Monroe 
County. 


63 


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Fig-. 29. Map of Adams county showing location of wells. The southern 
tier of townships is in gas and oil territory. 






















































































































































CHAPTER VIT. 

ADAMS COUNTY 


Adams County lies within the glaciated area of Indiana, hence its bed 
rock (durolith) is covered with a thick over-burden of glacial drift (rego- 
lith). The latter varies in thickness from a few feet to eighty or more. 
It conceals the eroded surface of the Silurian (Niagara limestone). Be¬ 
neath the Silurian strata lie the shales of the Ordovician which rest upon 
the Trenton limestone, within porous portions of which oil has been 
found in this county. The structural conditions cannot be determined in 
this county by surficial observations. Enough wells have been drilled 
in the county to furnish sufficient data for outlining the structural con¬ 
ditions, but unfortunately these records have not been preserved, and 
so the minor irregularities on the surface of the geanticline cannot be 
located. 


Railroad Elevations. 

GRAND RAPIDS AND INDIANA RAILROAD. 


Location 


Feet above 

Location 


Feet above 




Sea Level 



Sea Level 

Geneva .... 


.. 840.5 

67th mile post. 

.... 812.6 

55th 

mile 

post. 

. 849.7 

68th 

ft ft 

808.7 

56th 

<< 

ii 

. 833.2 

69th 

(ft 

803.5 

57th 

a 

ft ft 

. 845.2 

70th 

(ft 

.... 801.8 

58th 

< t 

ii 

847.4 

Decatur 


799.2 

59th 

a 

ii 

. 838.7 

71st 

ft* 

.... 797.7 

60th 

a 

i i 

. 841.3 

72nd “ 

(< 

786.4 

61st 

<< 

ii 

. 840.3 

73rd “ 

(ft 

.... 794.0 

62nd 

a 

i l 

. 826.2 

Monmouth 


. .. 789.7 

63rd 

a 

ii 

. 839.2 

74th 

ft( 

789.0 

64 th 

a 

ii 

. 825.3 

75th “ 

ft ft 

810.0 

Monroe 


. 823.8 

76th “ 

(ft 

817.5 

65th 

a 

i ft 

.. 823.2 

77th “ 

(ft 

816.1 

66th 

a 

ii 

. 817.2 

Williams 


826.2 



TOLEDO, 

ST. LOUIS AND 

WESTERN 

RAILROAD. 


State 

line 


. 800.7 

112th mile 

post . 

815 6 

101st 

mile 

post. 

. 795.9 

113th 

il 

822.0 

102nd 

<< 

<< 

. 802.7 

Peterson 


817 0 

Pleas 

ant Mills . 

. 799.4 

114th “ 

< i 

823.8 

104th 

mile 

post. 

. 797.0 

115th 

(ft 

829 0 

105th 

a 

«« 

. 800.1 

116th 

n 

835 6 

106th 

<< 

a 

. 804.0 

117th 

(» 

846 3 

107th 

< < 

i i 

_ 802.2 

118th 

(ft 

851 0 

108th 

a 

a 

. 795.6 

119th 

(ft 

859 5 

Decatur 


. 800.3 

120th 

<( 

855 2 

109th 

< < 

i * 

. 804.9 

121st 

a 

830 3 

110th 

a 

< i 

. 809.0 

122nd “ 

a 

824 0 

111th 

a 

i ft 

. 815.0 

123rd “ 

ft* 

.... 814.5 


( 64 ) 




























































65 

CHICAGO AND ERIE LINE. 

Bridge No. 49. 799.0 Bridge No. 53. 800.0 

Decatur . 799.0 Bridge No. 56. 809.0 

Magley . 830.0 

Oil has been produced in the southern tier of townships and in Blue 
Creek Township. The production was heaviest in Hartford Township. 
Washington Township. The following is the record of a well drilled 

4 ' \ t 

at Decatur as given by Phinney 1 : 

Decatur Well. 


Drift . 47 feet. 

Limestone . 436 “ 

Bluish Shale. 667 “ 

Black shale. 110 “ 

Trenton limestone. 40 “ 


Total depth.1300 feet. 

Altitude of well. 800 “ 


Blue Creek Township. Wells in sections 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 27, 
28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34. Light oil production was obtained in 15, 
16, 22, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, and 34. In 1916 five wells were abandoned in 
section 31 and two in section 32. Dry holes were drilled in sections 8, 9, 
10, 15, 17, 21, 28, 29, 30, and 33. Gas was obtained in section 16. 

Hartford Township. The most productive territory was found in this 
township. Oil production was obtained in sections 12 to 36 inclusive. 
Dry holes were drilled in sections 4, 7, 8, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, and 23. 
Some of the wells had an initial production of 180 barrels per day. 
Thirteen wells were drilled in the northeast quarter of section 25, the 
average depth of the Trenton being 1004 feet and the average initial 
production being one hundred barrels per day*. The record of a well 
drilled on the southwest quarter of section 25 is given by Blatchley*' as 
follows: 

Record of Well in Section 25. 


Drive pipe. 110 feet. 

Casing . 230 

Trenton struck at. 996 


Initial production 150 barrels. 

Production in October, 1896, two barrels. 

A large number of wells have been abandoned in this township, a partial 
list is given below: 

The wells abandoned in this township are located as follows: 


Sec. 

wells 

Sec. 

wells 

Sec. 

wells 

12 

3 

25 

4 

34 

8 

13 

2 

26 

3 

35 

10 

17 

1 

28 

4 

36 

1 

20 

1 

33 

1 




















GO 


Jefferson Township. Production has been obtained in this township 
from sections 4, 5, 6, 10, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 34. 
Dry holes were drilled in sections 3, 7, 8, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, and 33. 
Gas was obtained in 16 and 34. The initial production of oil ranged as 
high as one hundred barrels per day. Abandoned wells are located in 
section 4, one well; section 10, one well; section 16, seven wells; section 
21, three wells; section 22, two wells; section 29, one well. 


Wabash Township. Light production was obtained in sections 18, 19, 
20, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 36. Dry holes were drilled in sections 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 32, 33, 35, and 36. 
A partial list of the wells abandoned is given below: 


Sec. 

wells 

Sec. 

wells 

Sec. 

wells 

Sec. 

wells 

7 

5 

27 

1 

31 

4 

36 

7 

19 

2 

29 

5 

32 

1 



23 

2 

30 

23 

35 

1 




In Adams County 880 wells have been abandoned only a partial list of 
which has been recorded. 


ALLEN COUNTY 

The duroiith of the northern portion of Allen County is composed of 
strata of Devonian age, but for the remainder of the county it is composed 
of Silurian strata. The regolith, which is composed mainly of glacial drift, 
varies in thickness from one hundred to three hundred feet. Irregulari¬ 
ties in the surface of the duroiith, irregularities of decomposition and post 
glacial erosion, account for the difference in thickness of the drift. This 
county lies largely on the side of the Cincinnati arch dipping toward 
the north basin. The dip of the surface of the Trenton northward from 
Ft. Wayne is at the rate of twelve and one-half feet to the mile. At Ft. 
Wayne the surface of the Trenton lies about 650 feet below sea level, at 
Stoners near the north line of the county, it is 860 feet and near New 
Haven it is about 680 feet below sea level. Not enough well records 
are available to determine accurately the structural conditions and sub¬ 
surface work is the only possible source of information on account of 
the concealment of the duroiith. The following are some of the railroad 
elevations in the county: 


Railroad Elevations. 


Fort Wayne. 

.757.3 

Fort Wayne. 

.779.0 

New Haven.. 

..758.6 

State Line. 

.757.8 

Dixon .. 

.793.5 

Gorham .. 

..817.8 

Fort Wayne ..-. 

.765.1 

Carroll . 

.852.6 

Washington . 

..811.9 

East Yard. 

.802.3 

Dawkins . 

.769.1 

Maples . 

..790.5 

Huntertown ... 

.841.6 

Hoagland . 

.826.7 

Stoner’s . 

..837.7 

Academie . 

.829.9 

Junction .. 

.764.4 

Wab. Crossing.... 

..757.8 

Edgerton . 

.758.3 

Monroeville . 

.789.6 

Adams . 

..790.9 

Hadley . 

.840.1 

Huntertown ... 

.871.1 

Wallen . 

..854.6 


Adams .791.9 



























67 




Wayne Township. Four wells were drilled at Fort Wayne. They range 
in depth from 1000 to 3000 feet. The records 1 of Nos. 1 and 2 follow: 

Section of Well No. 1, Nov. 18, 1886. 


Drift . 77 feet. 

Water-lime . 30 “ 

Niagara. 570 “ 

Hudson River and Utica. 751 “ 

Trenton limestone. 15 “ 


Total depth.1443 feet. 

Trenton below sea level. 693 “ 


Gas with an initial pressure of 160 pounds per square inch was found 
upon entering the Trenton rock at a depth of 1428 feet; at a depth of 
1431 feet a considerable quantity of oil was found. 

Section of Well No. 2. 


Drift . 110 feet. 

Dower Helderburg. 34 “ 

Niagara limestone and shale. 571 “ 

Hudson River limestone and shale. 410 “ 

Utica shale. 312 “ 

Trenton limestone. 21 “ 


Total depth.1458 feet. 

Trenton below sea level. 650 “ 


Yielded no gas. Salt water, however, was found in considerable quan¬ 
tities. 

Below is given the record of a well drilled in Perry Township 1 : 

Section of Well Drilled on Sec. 4, Twp. 32, R. 12. 


Surface above sea level. 844 feet. 

Drift . 281 “ 

Limestone . 749 

White shale. 430 

Black shale. 240 

Trenton limestone. 52 

Total depth.1752 feet. 

Trenton below sea level. 856 


Did not strike gas, oil or salt water. The dip of the surface of the 
Trenton from Fort Wayne to this point is about twelve and one-half feet 
to the mile. 

Adams Township 11 . N. E. % of section 14 in 1899 made a fair showing 
of oil, but a second bore resulted in a dry hole. A third bore resulted in 


a well, described below: 

Drive pipe . 96 feet. 

Casing .-. 700 

Top of Trenton.1440 

Total depth.-.1496 


































Several bores were drilled on the farms adjoining the above, but 
resulted in dry holes. 

Jackson Township^. Section 3, bore completed on the Amspaugli farm, 
started with an output of twelve barrels per day. Section 33, a test 
well was drilled in October, 1903, which resulted in about eighteen barrels. 

Monroe Township. A large showing of oil in section 3, also a big supply 
of gas; caught fire before the drilling was completed. A well in section 
3, on the C. K. Dresser property was abandoned in 1919. 


BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY 

The glacial drift covering Bartholomew County varies in thickness from 
five to more than one hundred feet. Underlying the drift in the eastern 
part of the county are strata of Silurian and lower Devonian age, while 
in the western part the strata are of the upper Devonian and lower 
Mississippian age. The Silurian rocks are limestones largely, the De¬ 
vonian, shales and limestones, and the Mississippian, shales and sand¬ 
stones. 

The structural conditions are not easily determined on account of the 
glacial drift which conceals the outcrop of the bed rock strata. If the 
proper geological structures exist, it is possible that oil and gas may 
be found in the Devonian and the Trenton in the western part of the 
county and from the Trenton in the eastern part of the county. The 
Trenton lies below the surface at depths ranging from 800 to 1200 feet. 

The record of a well drilled at Columbus is given below: 

Section of Well No. I 2 . 


Drift . 26 feet. 

Devonian shale. 87 “ 

Corniferous limestone. 32 “ 

Niagara limestone. 235 “ 

Hudson River limestone and shale. 440 “ 

Utica shale. 135 “ 

Trenton limestone. 155 “ 


Total depth.1110 feet. 

Yielded no gas. 


Elevation on Railroads. 

Columbus, 627.3; Clifford, 668-3; St. Louis Crossing, 679.5; \Viggs 4 615.9; 
Elizabethtown, 615.8; Waynesville, 601.7. 


BENTON COUNTY 

Rock strata belonging to the Devonian, Mississippian and the Pennsyl¬ 
vanian periods underlie the Pleistocene deposits in Benton County. The 
latter attain a thickness of from 75 to 350 feet. The bed rock strata dip 
toward the southwest. The Trenton limestone may be reached at a depth 
of from 800 to 1100 feet, depending upon the surface elevation and 













69 


location in the county. The structural conditions in the county cannot 
he determined by surficial methods, and the use of a large number 
of well records will he necessary in order to gain even a general idea 
of structural conditions. Without such data, prospecting for oil in this 
county will be, of necessity, with the drill and attended with exceptional 
risks. 

The following is the reported record of a well at Fowler: 

Section of Well No. 1. 


Drift . 280 feet. 

Devonian black shale. 92 “ 

Corniferous limestone. 40 “ 

Niagara limestone. 328 “ 

Hudson River and Utica. 255 “ 


Total depth. 995 feet. 


Railroad Elevations. 

Wadena, 800.0; Lochiel, 795; Barce, 808; Swanington, 796; Oxford, 736; 
State line, 706; Freeland, 720; Atkinson, 712; Gravel Hill, 780; Sheff, 727; 
Sheldon, 680; Iroquois, 649; Otterbein, 705.3; Vilas, 707; Templeton, 669; 
Fargo, 771; Chase, 738.3; Boswell, 756.3; Talbot, 763.8; Handy, 743; 
Ambia, 730.6. The elevations above given used with well records and 
records of outcrops and an aneroid barometer in the hands of a trained 
geologist may be the means of determining the structural conditions in 
this county. 


BLACKFORD COUNTY 

The mantle rock in Blackford County is glacial drift varying in thick¬ 
ness from 15 to 150 feet. The drift rests on the Niagara limestone which 
has been eroded by preglacial streams and varies in thickness with the 
configuration of that surface. The Silurian (Niagaran) limestone has 
a thickness of 200 to 350 feet at least. The underlying Ordovician shales 
(Hudson River and Utican) reach a thickness of 600 feet, while the 
Trenton limestone has a thickness of about 500 feet. 

Licking Township. Producing oil and gas wells have been drilled in 
this township. The following well records were reported by Gorby 1 : 


Hartford City. 

Well No. 1 


Well No. 2 


Drift 


Trenton limestone 


Total depth. 

Trenton below sea level... 

The first gave a strong flow of gas and the second a very strong flow. 


130 

feet. 

. 82 

feet. 

350 

a 

. 280 

u 

473 

a 

. 573 

a 

30 

a 

. 32 

tt 

983 

feet. 

.. 967 

feet. 

70 

a 

. 40 

<« 


’Gorby, S. S., Ind. Geol. Sur. 1888, p. 247. 
























70 


Another well located near the Fort Wayne and Muncie Railroad depot 
was reported by Phinney 2 as follows: 


Drift . 125 feet. 

Limestone . 200 “ 

Shale . 622 “ 

Trenton limestone. 35 “ 


Total depth. 982 feet. 


The elevation of the station is 887.6 feet above sea level.’ 



Fig-. 30. Map of Blackford County, showing abandoned wells. Wash¬ 
ington and Harrison Townships were oil territory and Licking and 
Jackson gas territory. A little oil was produced in Licking in the 
northern part. 

Since the altitude of the mouth of the well is given at 895, the top 
of the Trenton would lie 52 feet below sea level. This well at first had 
a flow of gas of 850,000 cubic feet per day; by drilling deeper it was 
increased to 2,787,000 cubic feet per day. A second well was drilled half 


2 Phinney, A. J., 11th Ann. Kept. U. S. G. S., p. 679. 








































































71 


a mile southwest of the first and the Trenton reached at 935 feet. This 
well flowed 7,982,000 cubic feet per - day. 

A well drilled north of Hartford City reached gas at 980 feet and had a 
daily capacity of 6,383,000 cubic feet. Gas wells were located in this 
township in sections 5, 7, 8, 17, 19, 20, 21, and 27. Oil wells were located 
in sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 14, 16, 18, 22, and 27. The following 
wells have been plugged: Section 1, one well; section 2, one well; 
section 6, nine wells; section 8, one well; section 10, four wells; section 
11, three wells; section 14, one well; section 15, one well; section 17, 
one well; section 29, one well; section 35, two wells. 

Harrison Township. A well drilled at Montpelier reported by Dr. C. Q. 


Sholl 1 gives the following section: 

1. Drift . 16y 2 feet. 

2. Gray limestone. 23 “ 

3. Gravel, 14 ft. and red clay, 16 ft. 30 “ 

4. Gray limestone. 180 

5. Shale (Niagara).... 38 “ 

6. Bluish limestone. 65 “ 

7. Bluish shale. 35 “ 

8. Brownish limestone. 35 “ 

9. Bluish shale. 35 “ 

10. Gray limestone.. 8 “ 

11. Bluish green shale. 160 “ 

12. Brown shale. 50 “ 

13. Bluish shale. 18 “ 

14. Black shale. 280 

15. Trenton limestone. 11 y 2 “ 

Total depth. 975 feet. 


The elevation of the station at Montpelier is 867.0 feet above sea level. 
The following wells have been plugged in this township: Section 1, 
16 wells; section 3, 1 well; section 4, 1 well; section 5, 14 wells; section 6, 

13 wells; section 7, 4 wells; section 9, 2 wells; section 16, 1 well; section 
18, 1 well; section 30, 2 wells; section 31, 1 well; section 32, 1 well. 

Washington Township. All the sections in the township have produced 
oil, and gas has been obtained from sections 23, 24, 31, 32, 35, and 36, 
R. 11 E., oil in 6, 7, 18, 19, 30, and gas in 19 and 30, R. 12 E. 

Wells have been plugged as follows: Section 1, 1 well; section 3, 6 
welis; section 4, 6 wells; section 5, 23 wells; section 7, 10 wells; section 9, 
4 wells; section 10, 8 wells; section 12, 6 wells; section 13, 6 wells; 
section 21, 12 wells; section 24, 1 well; section 30, 1 well; section 31, 

14 wells; section 32, 2 wells; section 33, 1 well; section 35, 1 well. 
Jackson Township. Sections 6 and 7 produced oil. Gas was found in 

sections 5, 17, and 18. Wells have been abandoned in the following 
sections: Section 2, 1 well; section 5, 1 well; section 8, 1 well; section 9, 
1 well; section 15, 2 wells; section 17, 1 well; section 23, 2 wells; 


Whinney, loc. cit. 






















section 24, 1 well; section 25, 1 well; section 28, 1 well; section 32, 
1 well; section 33, 1 well. 


Anna C. Simonton Farm, Sec. 15, Harrison Twp.: 


Sand and gravel. 134 feet. 

Limestone . 138 “ 

Shale . 725 “ 

Trenton rock. 42 “ 


Total depth.1039 feet. 

Lewis Blount Farm, section 14, Harrison Township, Blackford County: 

Sand and gravel. 118 feet. 

Limestone . 162 “ 

Shale . 700 

Trenton rock... 47*4 “ 


Total depth of well.1027Ms feet. 

More than 1398 wells have been abandoned in this county. 


BOONE COUNTY 

Strata of Devonian age form the durolith which underlies the eastern 
and central portions of the surface of Boone County, while strata of 
Mississippian age underlie the western portion. These strata are con¬ 
cealed by the glacial drift which varies from fifty to one hundred and fifty 
feet in thickness. The strata of the durolith which are recognizable 
from the well records are: 


Mississippian 
Devonian. 

Silurian. 

Ordovician. 


Shales and sands—Knobstone 
(Shale—New Albany 
I Limestones 
^ Shale 

|Limestones—Niagara (?) 

(Shales—Utica and Hudson River 
) Limestone—Trenton 


The structural conditions in Boone County cannot be determined by the 
use of surficial observations. Deep well records are not sufficiently 
abundant to furnish the data for subsurface work. 


Railroad Elevations. 

Zionsville, 842; Whitestown, 928; Hazelbrigg, 904; Terhune, 940.8; Max 
Station, 922; Advance, 928. 


















A well drilled at Zionsville is reported as follows 1 : 


Drift . 160 feet 

Black shale (trace). 75 “ 

Devonian limestone, with sandstone 

at base . 75 “ 

Lower Helderburg and water lime. 50 “ 

Niagara limestone . 165 “ 

Clinton limestone . 30 “ 

Hudson River and Utica. 525 “ 

Trenton limestone . 33 “ 


Total depth .1038 feet. 

Altitude of well... 777 “ 


A well drilled at Thorntown has the following record: 2 

Drift . 65 feet. 

Sub-carboniferous limestone and shale.. 338 “ 

Hamilton shale. 87 “ 

Corniferous limestone. 37 “ 

Niagara limestone. 405 “ 

Hudson River and Utica. 373 “ 

Trenton limestone. 80 “ 


Total depth...1287 feet. 

Trenton below sea level.,. 394 “ 

Yielded no gas. 


A well was drilled at Lebanon, Indiana to a total depth of 1800 feet. 
Depth to Trenton, 1227 feet. Trenton below sea level 302 feet. No gas. 
The record of this well as given by Phinney is as follows: 


Drift . 210 feet. 

Blue and black shales. 204 “ 

Limestones . 401 “ 

Shale . 412 “ 

Trenton limestone. 373 “ 


Total depth.1600 feet. 

Altitude of well. 925 “ 


BROWN COUNTY 

The northern part of Brown County lies within the glaciated area but 
the greater part of the county furnishes good rock exposures as the topog¬ 
raphy is of a rugged type. Even though the strata are not concealed by 
glacial drift the determination of the structure is difficult on account of 
the absence of persistent layers of rock. A lense or perhaps several lenses 
of limestone occur about one hundred feet below the upper surface of the 
Knobstone group. These lenses may be used locally as datum for mapping 
the structure. Sandstone layers occur at many horizons in the Knobstone 





























74 


but they are unreliable because of their lenticular character and cross 
bedded nature. 

Trevlac. A well was drilled on the Bullhimer farm two miles north of 
Trevlac. The drill passed into the Trenton limestone at 1460 feet. The 
upper part of the limestone was fossiliferous, porous and contained a 
showing of gas. The drill passed through the Trenton at 2056 feet, show¬ 
ing 596 feet of limestone. 

Johnson Township. A well was drilled in section 7 in Johnson Town¬ 
ship and a showing of gas was obtained. 

The elevation of the surface on the railroad at Trevlac is 654; Helms- 
burg, 676; Fruitdale, about 797. 


CARROLL COUNTY 

A small area around Delphi, another one in the northern part of the 
county and another in the eastern portion is occupied by the Niagara 
limestone as a bed rock formation, the remainder of the county is occupied 
by the Devonian strata. The bed rock is largely concealed by glacial drift 
but outcrops occur to a limited extent along the Wabash River and some 
of its tributaries. 

The following are the records of two wells drilled at Delphi: 2 

Niagara limestone. 587 feet. 

Hudson River limestone and shale. 220 “ 

Utica shale. 93 “ 

Trenton limestone. 12 “ 

Total depth. 912 feet. 

Trenton below sea level. 334 “ 

Yielded no gas. 


Section of Well No. 2 


Niagara 

limestone. 

. 565 

feet. 

Hudson 

River and Utica shale. 

. 351 

<< 

Trenton 

limestone. 

. 434 

it 

Potsdam 

sandstone... 

.. 12 

tc 


Total depth.1362 feet. 

Trenton below sea level. 350 “ 

Yielded no gas. 

Recently attempts were made to drill in the Niagara mound at Delphi 
under the assumption that it represented an anticline. There is reason to 
believe that this dome may be only the remnant of an ancient reef. 

Railroad Elevations 

Cutter, 722.7; Bringhurst, 718.7; Flora, 699.7; Camden, 659.7; Woodville, 
692.7; Pattons, 682.4; Lennox, 663.7; Sleeths, 657.8; Wabash River, 647; 
N. Delphi, 557; Delphi, 555; Deer Creek, 672; Harley’s, 693.5; Ockley, 695; 
Orvasco, 701. 















75 


CASS COUNTY 

Strata of Silurian and Devonian age underlie the surficial deposit of 
glacial drift in this county. The determination of structural conditions 
from surficial observations is prevented by the glacial mantle. 

A well drilled at Galveston furnishes the following sections: 

Section of Well No. I 2 


Drift . 40 feet. 

Corniferous and Niagara limestone. 410 “ 

Hudson River and Utica. 480 “ 

Trenton limestone. 20 “ 


Total depth. 950 feet. 

Yielded no gas. 

At Logansport a well is reported to have: 

Depth to Trenton. 995 feet. 

Trenton below sea level. 344 “ 


Yielded no gas. 

A second record was constructed by Phinney from drillings kept by 


Dr. J. H. Shultz: 

Upper Helderburg limestone. 40 feet. 

Lower Helderburg limestone. 30 “ 

Water lime. 108 “ 

Bluish limestone, Niagara. 55 “ 

Argillaceous limestone. 110 “ 

White and gray limestone. 135 “ 

Bluish green shale (Niagara). 2 “ 

Clinton limestone steel gray, red grain.. 53 “ 

Hudson River limestone and shales. 90 “ 

Utica shale. 281 “ 

Trenton limestone. 200 “ 

Total depth.1104 feet. 

Altitude of well. 611 “ 

Section of well at Royal Center: 

Drift . 105 feet. 

Niagara limestone. 485 “ 

Hudson River. 220 “ 

Brown shale, Utica shale. 110 “ 

Trenton limestone. 42 “ 


Total depth... 962 feet. 


Three wells were drilled in this county in 1909, two were reported dry 
and the third as showing small production. 































CLARK COUNTY 

The greater part of Clark County lies within the unglaciated area but 
the northeastern part of the county is covered with glacial drift. The 
strata represented by the outcrops cf the county are given in the following 
table: 

^Recent: Clays and alluvium 

Quaternary.^Pleistocene: Clays, gravels & sand 


Mississippian 


["Mitchell limestone 
I Salem limestone 
.j Harrodsburg limestone 
Knobstone, sandstone and shales 
Rockford limestones 


Devonian 


'New Albany shales 
Sellersburg limestones 
Silver Creek limestone 
Jeffersonville limestone 


Silurian 


Ordovician 


Louisville limestone 
Waldron shale 
< Laurel limestone 
Osgood limestone and shale 
Brassfield shale 


Richmond 


Elkhorn 

Whitewater 

Saluda 

Liberty 

Waynesville 

Arnheim 


Maysville 

l 


'Mt. Auburn 
Coryville 
< Bellevue 
| Fairmount 
[Mt. Hope 


The determination of structural conditions favorable for gas or oil, if 
such exist, seems possible in this county because of the absence of glacial 
drift and the rugged condition of the topography which produces many 
outcrops of the strata. Key formations such as the Louisville limestone, 
the Sellersburg and the Harrodsburg may be used to advantage in locating 
structures. In the eastern part of the county the Trenton limestone is a 
possible source of gas and oil if favorable conditions exist. In the western 
portion the Trenton, Silurian and the Devonian limestones may furnish 
oil or gas reservoirs 













The following is the record of a well drilled at Jeffersonville: 

Section of Well No. 1 


Alluvium . 45 f ee t. 

Devonian limestone. 40 “ 

Niagara limestone. 105 “ 

Clinton limestone. 20 “ 

Hudson River limestone and shale. 646 “ 


Depth to Trenton.. 856 feet. 

Trenton below sea level. 401 “ 

Yielded small flow of gas. 


Some gas was obtained from a well north of Jeffersonville. 


CLAY COUNTY 

The portion of the Geological column represented by the outcrops in 
this county is given below: 

^Recent: Alluvial sands and clays 

Quaternary.j Pleistocene: Glacial sands, gravels and till 

^Allegheny: Limestones, sandstones, shales and coals 

Pennsylvanian.jPottsville: Conglomerate, sands, shales and coals 

Mississippian. Chester: Shales, sandstones and limestones 

On account of the thickness of the mantle of Pleistocene and Recent, 
outcrops of the bed rock are not numerous but some of the streams have 
cut through the mantle and revealed the bed rock. Coal strip pits have 
also uncovered the strata in limited areas. The determination of struc¬ 
tural conditions will require the use of sub-surface data, such as the record 
of wells, coal shafts, etc. Careful discrimination between Pottsville coals 
and Allegheny coal will be necessary as the use of the latter for key 
horizons is not always safe, as there is some evidence of a post-Pottsville 
disturbance. 

The following is the record of a well drilled east of Jasonville. These 
records were obtained from Jesse Liston of Lewis: 


Sheets Drill East of Jasonville 


Surface clay. 

Sandstone . 

Shale . 

Coal . 

Blue fire clay. 

Water sandstone 

Shale . 

Water sandstone. 
Blue shale, soft... 
Water sandstone 
Blue shale, soft... 
Coal . 


Feet 


0 

to 

15 

15 

<< 

30 

30 

a 

36 

36 

a 

38 

38 

tt 

50 

50 

tt 

75 

75 

a 

100 

100 

i t 

130 

130 

it 

150 

150 

tt 

170 

170 

tt 

282 

282 

tt 

286 

























Feet 

White shale, soft. 286 “ 305 

Sandstone . 305 “ 328 

Shale . 328 “ 338 

Water sandstone. 338 “ 352 

Shale . 352 “ 408 

Sandstone . 408 “ 452 

Blue shale. 452 “ 520 

Water sandstone. 520 “ 580 

Hole full of water. 550 

Shale . 580 “ 586 

Limestone . 586 “ 643 

Shale . 643 “ 653 

Blue shale, soft. 653 “ 668 

Limestone . 668 “ 850 

8 & in. casing at. 740 

White limsetone, soft. 850 “ 855 

Brown limestone. 855 “ 875 

White limestone, soft. 875 “ 885 

Brown limestone. 885 “ 925 

White limestone, soft. 925 “ 932 

Brown limestone..... 932 “ 987 

Water sandstone, blue. 987 “ 1030 

Blue lick water. 987 

Brown limestone. 1030 “ 1052 

Water sandstone. 1052 “ 1077 

Limestone . 1077 “ 1365 

Shale . 1365 “ 1385 

Shale . 1385 “ 1550 

White shale. 1550 “ 1685 

Black shale . 1683 “ 1791 

Sandstone . 1791 “ 1836 

Light showing of oil. 1836 

Sandstone and limestone. 1836 “ 1858 

Sandstone, water sand. 1836 “ 1858 

About the same to bottom of hole ... 1892 


Pigg Drill East of Lewis, Indiana 


Feet 

Coal . 75 to 80 

Broken stuff, soft lime shale and a 

little broken sand. 410 

Water sand. 410 “ 615 

Shale . 615 “ 695 

Water sand. 695 “ 725 

Black shale... 725 “ 730 

Top of big lime. 730 

Hard lime. 730 “ 740 

White shale. 740 “ 744 

Hard lime. 744 “ 800 














































Feet. 


70 


Soft lime. 

Hard lime... 

Shale . 

Hard lime... 
Blue sand ... 

Water . 

Lime. 

Brown sand 

Lime . 

Sandy lime 

Lime . 

Blue lime ... 
Gray lime ... 
Light shale 
Dark shale 
Light shale 
Riley? sand 
Light shale 
Dark shale 


800 “ 805 

805 “ 950 

950 “ 955 

955 “ 1075 

1075 “ 1100 

1090 

1100 “ 1175 

1175 “ 1185 

1185 “ 1290 

1290 “ 1300 

1300 “ 1420 

1420 “ 1500 

1500 “ 1525 

1525 “ 1570 

1570 “ 1670 

1670 “ 1680 

1680 “ 1684 

1684 “ 1785 

1785 “ 1860 


It was drilled some deeper than this, but the record further down was 
unobtainable. 


Merchon Well 

Glacial drift . 

Sandstone and shale. 

Sandstone . 

Sandy shale . 

Slate and stone. 

Blue shale. 

Sandstone . 

Sandy shale and slate. 

Black sandstone . 

Gray slate . 

Sandstone . 

Stone and slate. 

Sandstone . 

Sandstone and slate. 

Gray slate . 

Sand and slate. 

Sandstone and slate. 

Limestone .- 

Slate and sandstone. 

Limestone and slate. 

Limestone . 

Black slate . 

Blue slate . 

Slate . : . : . 


35 feet 
35 “ 

5 “ 

15 “ 

6 “ 
20 “ 

3 “ 

16 “ 

13 “ 

75 “ 

20 “ 
10 “ 
30 “ 

28 “ 
10 “ 
17 “ 

50 “ 

83 “ 

5 “ 

5 “ 

30 “ 

20 “ 
267 “ 

145 “ 


979 “ 













































Measured Line 930 


Slate . 

. 70 

feet 


Blue slate . 

. 48 

ii 


Blue shale . 

__ 46 

a 


Casing set . 

.1094 

a 


Blue shale . 

. 95 

a 

-1189 

Black shale . 

. 19 

a 

-1208 

Oil on water, salt water. 

Limestone . 

. 34 

a 


Total depth . 

.1242 

a 



The above is the record of a well drilled about iy 2 miles Southwest of 
Carbon in the center of Section 12, T. 13 N, R. 7 W. Record secured by 
Dr. C. A. Malott. 


CLINTON COUNTY 

With the exception of a small area in the southwestern part of the 
county which is occupied by strata of the Mississippian age, the entire 
subsurface of this county is occupied by Devonian strata. The glacial 
drift overlying the bed rock varies in thickness from 50 to 300 feet. This 
covering prevents the determination of the structural conditions of the 
durolith. 

The following are the records of two wells drilled at Frankfort. 2 


Section of Well No. 1 

Drift . 88 feet. 

Niagara limestone and shale. 272 “ 

Hudson River and Utica. 480 “ 

Trenton limestone . 22 “ 


Total . 862 “ 

Yielded good flow of gas. 

Section of Well No. 2 

Drift . 278 feet. 

Niagara limestone and shale. 380 “ 

Limestone . 10 “ 

Hudson River and Utica. 400 “ 

Trenton limestone . 260 “ 


Total depth .1328 “ 

Trenton below sea level. 327 “ 

Yielded no gas. 


Railroad Elevations 

Forest, 878.8; Frankfort, 846.7; Colfax, 840.7; Moran, 796.7; Michigan- 
town, 866.2; Jefferson, 859.3; Manson, 857.7; Sedalia, 776.7; Avery, 872; 
Fickle, 827.3; Kilmore, 829.7; Circleville, 929.3; Hillsburg, 919.7; Boylston, 
903.0; Deniston, 844.1; Mulberry, 772.6. 


























SI 


CRAWFORD COUNTY 

Crawford County lies within the driftless area of Indiana. The strata 
which outcrop in the county belong to the following divisions and sub¬ 


divisions: 

J Recent—alluvium. 

Quaternary.| Pleistocene—residuals. 

S Allegheny—shales, sandstones, limestones,coal. 

Pennsylvanian.^Pottsville—sandstones, shales and coal. 

S Chester—shale, sandstone and limestone. 
Mississippian.| Mitchell—limestone. 


The structural conditions for a portion of the county can probably be 
determined by using limestones as the key formations. A portion of 
Orange County has already been mapped structurally and since the 
geological conditions are similar, for a part of Crawford County, it may 
be that the work can be extended to the latter. Possible oil bearing sand 
may be expected in the Trenton, Devonian and Chester rocks. 


Taswell Well. 

In 1903 the Highland Investment Company of Chicago, drilled a well in 
search of gas or oil, near the eastern limits of Taswell, eight miles east 
of Birdseye, on the Southern Railway. Drilling continued to a depth of 
1,690 feet, where they encountered the actual Trenton, and drilled it 100 
feet, a total depth of 1,790 feet, and got neither gas nor oil. In the 
western part of Crawford County there are surface indications of oil that 
have an extent of five miles in width by ten miles in length. Oil in 
paying quantities was never found. An oil well and a gas well were 
drilled in Section 16, Patoka Township about one mile northwest of 
Eckerty. 


DAVIESS COUNTY 

The mantle of glacial drift varies in thickness in this county from a few 
feet to more than one hundred feet in the valley of White River. The 
strata which underlie the drift belong to the Pennsylvanian period. Out¬ 
crops of the Pottsville division occur in the east part of the county and of 
Allegheny in the western portion. Structural conditions of the bed rock 
cannot be determined by surficial observation so that subsurface work 
must be resorted to in order to achieve results. Oil has been found in 
this county south of Cannelburg in Barr Township in the southeast part 
of Section 8. One dry hole was drilled in the north; one dry hole in 
Section 7; one gas well and one dry hole in Section 3; one oil well and 
one gas well in the northwest quarter of Section 17, and one oil well in 
Section 30. The productive wells range in depth from 380 feet to 725 
feet. The oil sand probably occurs in the Mansfield and the Chester. 

Washington Township. In Section 22 of this Township, on the land of 
Stanton Barber, a well was drilled and plugged in 1912. 





82 


Madison Township. A well was drilled oil the land of the Graham 
Class Company in Section 34. The well was plugged in 1912. 

Reeves Township. A well was drilled on the property of D. A. Brown in 
Section 10 and plugged in 1910. 

Barr Township. The following wells have been plugged in this Town¬ 
ship: Section 2, Ralph Thompson, 1911. Section 35, Ed Grundy, 1911, and 
Charles M. Allan in 1913. 

Harrison Township. A well drilled in Section 32 on the James Petti¬ 
grew property was plugged in 1911 and one in the same section on the 
property of F. M. Remsel in 1912. 

The majority of the wells drilled in this County were drilled from 
1910 to 1912. 



Fig. 31. Structural map of an area near Washinton, Daviess County. 
Contours drawn on Coal VII. Data secured by C. A. Malott and 
P. B. Stockdale of the field party of 1919. 

























































































DEARBORN COUNTY 

The bedrock formations of this county belong to the Ordovician period 
ol geologic time. They are for the most part covered with glacial drift. 

It may be possible to determine the structural conditions of this County 
if enough outcrops and well records can be secured. It lies on the west 
side of the Cincinnati Arch and the surface of the Trenton may be low 
enough in the southwest part of the County to be favorable territory. The 
surface of the Trenton is 158 feet above sea level at Lawrenceburg, where 
gas was obtained and dips westward where at North Vernon it is 260 
feet below sea level. 

Lawrenceburg Township. The log of a well drilled at Lawrenceburg in 


the river valley is as follows: 

Alluvium . 139 feet. 

Hudson River limestone and shale. 185 “ 

Utica shale . 25 “ 

Trenton limestone . 451 “ 

Potsdam sandstone . 40 “ 

Total depth . 840 “ 

Trenton above sea level. 158 “ 


The second well was drilled in the fairgrounds and reached the Tren¬ 
ton at 325 feet and showed gas. 

Center Township. A well drilled at Aurora has the following log: 


Drift . 92 feet. 

Bluish green shale. 148 “ 

Dark shale, Utica. 25 “ 

Limestone, Utica, gas. 2 “ 

Shales and limestone, Utica. 18 “ 

Shale, Utica . 25 “ 

Trenton limestone . 521 “ 

St. Peter .about 170 “ 

Total depth.1000 “ 

Altitude of well. 472 


DECATUR COUNTY 

The bed rock formations of this county are of Silurian and Devonian 
age and are largely concealed by glacial drift which varies in thickness 
from 10 to 100 feet. 

Washington Township. The record of the Greensburg city well as 
given by Phinney is as follows: 



City Well 

No. 1 

No. 2 

No. 3 

Drift . 

. 10 

7 



Corniferous limestone . 

. 4 

90 



Niagara limestone . 

_ 66 

90 



Niagara shale . 

. 35 




Hudson River & Utica shale.... 

. 747 

823 

886 

883 

Trontnn . 


63 



Total . 

. 862 

983 

886 

883 

Altitude of well. 

. 930 

920 

925 

925 











































84 


The following wells have been abandoned: 


Owner 

Section 

Date 

Wells 

Township School .. 

... 2 

1911 

1 

Aaron Logan . 

... 3 

1919 

1 

Wm. Jackson . ... 

... 4 

1919 

1 

City of Greensburg... 

... 5 

1911 

1 

S. Logan . 

... 10 

1919 

1 

Adams Township. A well drilled on the 

Chas. 

White property was 

abandoned in 1911. 

The surface of the Trenton around Greensburg varies from 

sea level to 

68 feet above sea level. The gas obtained 

in the 

wells at 

Greensburg 


had a maximum pressure of 350 pounds. In the northwestern portions of 
the County in Adams Township, at Adams and St. Omer, light flows of 
gas were obtained. 


DeKALB COUNTY 

The subsurface of this county is occupied by strata of the Devonian age 
which in the region of Auburn seems to have been slightly uplifted. The 
surface of the eroded Devonian rocks are covered with glacial drift which 
attains a thickness of more than 300 feet. Deep wells have been drilled at 
Auburn, Butler, Garrett and Waterloo. The structural conditions of the 
durolith are determinable only by the use of subsurface data. 

The record of one of Auburn wells follows: 


Section of Well No. 1 

Drift . 280 feet. 

Black shale . 120 “ 

Corniferous, water-lime and Niagara. 963 “ 

Hudson River, limestone and shale. 306 “ 

Utica shale . 268 “ 

Trenton limestone . 27 “ 


Total depth.1964 “ 

The following is the log of the Butler well: 

Section of Well No. 1 

Drift ..,. 378 feet. 

Hamilton shale . 108 feet. 

Corniferous, water-lime and Niagara.1064 “ 

Hudson River and Utica. 500 “ 

Trenton limestone . 89 “ 


Total depth .2139 “ 


Yielded a small flow of gas, which was found at a depth of 27 feet in 
the Trenton. 






















J lie record of t lie well at Garrett is given below: 


Section of Well No. 1 


Depth to Trenton.1980 feet. 

Total depth . 2160 “ 

Trenton below sea level.1098 “ 

Yielded a small flow of gas. 



Fig - . 32. Map of Delaware County showing location of abandoned wells. 
The eastern tier of townships are oil bearing, the remainder of the 
county is gas territory. 


DELAWARE COUNTY 

The Niagara limestone occupies the subsurface of this county and is 
covered with a mantle of glacial drift varying in thickness from 50 to 150 
feet. A large number of wells have been drilled in this county and nearly 
1,500 have been abandoned. From 1906 to 1914, 422 wells were completed, 
103 of which were dry. 





































































































Centre Township. Many productive gas wells have been drilled at and 
near Muncie. The combined records of wells No. 1 and No. 2, are given 


by Phinney as follows: 

Cedarville limestone . 90 feet. 

Bluish limestone (Springfield beds). 135 “ 

Niagara shale . 40 “ 

Hudson River limestone and shale. 100 “ 

Hudson River shale. 340 “ 

Utica shale . 270 “ 

Trenton limestone . 481 “ 

St. Peter’s sandstone. 150 “ 


Total depth 


1606 “ 


The records of other wells are given in the table below: 

Alti- 


Well 

Nut Gas Co., No. 1 
Nut Gas Co., No. 2 

Reid Well. 

Highland . 

Bent Works. 

West Main St. 

Fay . 

Winton . 

Water Works . 

Anthony . 

Boycetown No. l..„ 



Depth to 

tude of 

Altitude 

Trenton 

Trenton 

... 936 

876 

60 

... 933 

889 

44 

... 955 

887 

68 

... 949 

884 

65 

... 946 

894 

52 

... 930 

872 

58 

... 938 

887 

51 

... 936 

892 

44 

... 938 

891 

47 

... 956 

891 

65 

... 944 

886 

58 


Two wells were drilled on the J. C. Quick farm in Section 14, one yielded 


25 barrel of oil. The records are as follows: 

Drive pipe . 

Casing. 

Top of Trenton. 

Total Depth . 


No. 1 

No. 2 

104 

108 

348 

350 

898 

890 

1212 

1210 


In Section 35 a million-foot gas well has the following record: 

Drive pipe . 47 feet. 


Casing . 350 “ 

Top of Trenton. 920 “ 


Total depth .1015 “ 

Abandoned wells are located in the following sections: Section 2, 1 
well; Section 4, 1 well; Section 8, 1 well; Section 11, 1 well; Section 13, 
1 well; Section 23, 1 well; Section 33, 1 well; Section 34, 1 well. 
































Delaware Township. A gas well at Albany furnished the following 


record: 

Drift . 8 feet. 

Limestone . 200 “ 

Shale (Niagara) . 68 “ 

Hudson River and Utica shale. 658 “ 

Black shaly limestone. 30 “ 

Trenton limestone . 14 “ 


Total depth . 978 “ 

Altitude of well. 940 “ 


The table below gives the records of various wells drilled in this 
Township. 


Section 16 Sec. 18 Sec. 15 Sec. 10 

Drive pipe . 80 70 70 28 40 27 

Casing . 380 370 370 294 370 310 

Top of Trenton. 940 960 965 921 920 921 

Total depth .1280 1290 1297 1227 1195 1232 


Wells abandoned are located in Section 3, 1 well; Section 5, 6 wells; 
Section 7, 2 wells; Section 8, 7 wells; Section 9, 1 well; Section 10, 2 

wells; Section 11, 2 wells; Section 12, 2 wells; Section 15, 19 wells; 

Section 16, 1 well; Section 17, 2 wells; Section 18, 1 well; Section 19, 2 
wells; Section 22, 4 wells; Section 23, 4 wells; Section 25, 13 wells; 

Section 27, 7 wells; Section 28, 2 wells; Section 29, 7 wells; Section 30, 

1 well; Section 36, 5 wells. 


Liberty Township. The record of well drilled in this township is as 


follows: 

Drift . 90 feet. 

White and buff limestone.... 85 “ 

Soft and Ferruginous. 15 “ 

Bluish limestone . 75 “ 

Niagara shale . 40 “ 

Hudson River . 485 “ 

Utica shale . 210 

Trenton limestone .1. 25 “ 


Total depth .1025 

Altitude of well.1015 


As late as 1903, 81 wells were drilled in this Township. Fifty-three 
produced oil and the average initial production was 21 barrels. The 
records of three wells as given by Blatchley are as follows: 



Section 12 

Section 14 

Drive pipe . 

. 85 feet 

104 

97 

Casing . 

. 360 feet 

350 

364 

Top of Trenton.. 

...... 976 feet 

984 

988 

Total depth ... 

.1030 feet 

1040 

1035 

































ss 


Wells abandoned are located as follows: Section 1, 3 wells; Section 2, 
3 wells; Section 3, 16 wells; Section 10, 7 wells; Section 13, 12 wells; 
Section 14, 1 well; Section 15, 4 wells; Section 17, 2 wells; Section 22, 1 
well; Section 24, 26 wells; Section 25, 5 wells; Section 26, 16 wells; 
Section 34, 4 wells; Section 35, 2 wells; Section 36, 22 wells. 

Union Township. A well drilled in Eaton in 1876 produced some gas 
from Hudson River Shale. In September, 1886, the first gas well of 
importance in Indiana was drilled at this place. The record of the well 


follows: 

Buff limestone . 5 feet. 

Bluish limestone . 20 “ 

Buff limestone . 30 “ 

Bluish gray limestone. 45 “ 

White limestone . 35 “ 

Shale, bluish green. 35 “ 

Buff limestone (Clinton). 10 “ 

Shale, Hudson River and Utica. 690 “ 

Trenton limestone . 32 “ 

Total depth . 922 “ 


The Trenton was reached at Shideler at 884 feet. Successful gas wells 
were drilled at Cowan, Oakville, Yorktown, Royerton and New Corner. 

Jas. Dill Farm, Section 26, Township 21 North Range 11 East. 


Top soil . 67 feet. 

Lime . 200 “ 

Shales . 681 “ 

Top of sand. 948 “ 

Into Trenton . 325 “ 

Salt water struck in Trenton. 320 “ 


Jefferson Township. An abandoned well is located in Section 21. 

Harrison Township. Abandoned wells are located as follows: Section 
1, 3 wells; Section 2, 2 wells; Section 5, 2 wells; Section 7, 2 wells; 
Section 12, 8 wells; Section 16, 2 wells; Section 21, 1 well; Section 23, 1 
well; Section 24, 1 well; Section 25, 1 well; Section 27, 2 wells; Section 
36, 1 well. 

Hamilton Township. Wells were drilled in the following sections: Sec¬ 
tion 5, 2 wells; Section 7, 2 wells; Section 10, 1 well; Section 11, 4 wells; 
Section 12, 6 wells; Section 13, 4 wells; Section 16, 2 wells; Section 17, 
3 wells; Section 20, 9 wells; Section 21, 2 wells; Section 23, 2 wells; 
Section 24, 1 well; Section 25, 9 wells; Section 28, 1 well; Section 30, 
1 well. 

Washington Township. Wells were drilled and abandoned as follows: 
Section 5, 1 well; Section 10, 2 wells; Section 11, 2 wells; Section 12, 1 
well; Section 13, 4 wells; Section 14, 1 well; Section 15, 1 well; Section 
22, 2 wells; Section 23, 1 well; Section 24, 4 wells; Section 25, 8 wells; 
Section 27, 1 well; Section 31, 1 well; Section 32, 1 well; Section 33, 4 
wells; Section 36, 3 wells. 



















80 


Niles Township. Wells abandoned are as follows: One each in Se«. 
tions 11, 12, 20, 23, 13, 20, 27, 34, 35 and 30; Section 1), 2 wells; Section 
21, 3 wells; Section 22, 5 wells; Section 24, 5 wells; Section 28, 13 wells; 
Section 15, 2 wells; Section 10, 4 wells and Section 29, 4 wells. 


Union Township. Wells abandoned are located as follows: One each 
in Sections 9, 10, 11, 12, 18, 25, 27 and 35; 2 in Section 20; 4 in Section 22; 
2 in Section 26; 3 in Section 28; 2 in Section 29 and 4 in Section 34. 


Perry Township. Abandoned wells are located one each in Sections 
2, 4, 7, 9, and 3 in Section 5; 2 in Section 8, and 11 in Section 34. 

Wells drilled by Wallace Oil Company, Section 22, Delaware Township, 
Farm of Marcellius Hitchcock. 


Well No. 1 

8" drive pipe. 30 feet. 

614" casing . 326 “ 

Top Trenton . 935 “ 

Oil (light showing).1206 “ 

Total depth.1209 “ 

Shot March 25, 1919. Well pumping. 

Well No. 2 

8" drive pipe. 18 feet. 

614" casing . 306 “ 

Top Trenton . 926 “ 

Crevice showing light gas.1184 “ 

Total depth .1187 “ 


Well No. 3 

10" drive pipe. 

8" drive pipe. 

614" casing . 

Top Trenton . 

Oil . 

Total depth. 

Light oil. Well pumping light. 

Well No. 4 

10" drive pipe. 

8" drive pipe. 

6%" casing . 

Top Trenton. 

Oil (first) . 

Total depth. 

Light oil. 

Well No. 5 

10" drive pipe. 

8" drive pipe. 

6%" Casing . 

Top Trenton . 

Total depth . 

Light oil. 


28 feet 
140 “ 

330 “ 

940 “ 

1215 “ 

1216 “ 


. 45 feet 

. 96 “ 

. 330 “ 

. 946 “ 

1220-32 “ 

.1232 “ 


57 feet 
89 “ 

315 “ 

945 “ 

120S “ 






























DO 



Well No. 1. 

814" drive pipe... 

614" casing . 

Top of Trenton... 

Oil . 

Total depth . 

Light oil. 


Farm of Willis Workwell 

. 37 feet. 

. 332 “ 

. 935 “ 

. 1210 “ 

. 12131/2 “ 


Well No. 2 


10" drive pipe. 20 feet. 

8" drive pipe. 100 “ 

6%" casing . 332 “ 

Total depth .1206 “ 

First pay .1200 “ 


Light showing. Well pumping. 


Farm of Elmer Ritchie. Well No. 1 


10" drive pipe 
8" drive pipe.. 
614" casing .... 
Top Trenton .. 
Total depth .... 

First oil . 

Best oil . 


. 39 feet. 

. 95 “ 

. 295 “ 

. 927 “ 

.1206 “ 
.1198 “ 

.1203 “ 


Well No. 2 


8" drive pipe. 76 feet. 

614 " casing . 309 “ 

Top Trenton . 927 “ 

Total depth, 1207-oil.1200 “ 


Monarch Gas Company, Winchester, Indiana, Well No. 1 

S. W. corner of E, V 2 of S. W. 14 of Sec. Delaware Township 21, Range 11. 
125 feet drive pipe. 

Drive pipe . 125 feet. 

Casing . 325 “ 

To sand . 900 “ 

In sand . 320 “ 

Depth of well.1230 “ 


Well No. 2 

500 feet W. and 500 feet N. of S. E. corner of W. x / 2 of S. W. 14 of Sec. 
Delaware Township 21, Range 11. 

Drive pipe . 69 feet, 1 inch. 

Casing . 335 “ 

To sand . 916 “ 

Depth of well.1210 “ 


Well No. 3 

650 feet West and 1,000 feet N. of S. E. corner of W. x / 2 of S. W. 14 of 
Sec. Delaware Township 21, Range 11. 


Drive pipe. 79 feet. 

Casing . 340 “ 

To sand . 915 “ 

In sand . 288 “ 

Depth of well.1202 “ 







































91 
























































































92 


DUBOIS COUNTY 

Only the northwestern part of this county lies within the glaciated area 
The larger part of its surface is occupied by the outcrops of the strata of 
the Coal Measures. The divisions and the subdivisions represented by 
outcrops in the county are given below: 

J Recent—Alluvium. 

Quaternary. J Pleistocene—Clays, sands and gravels. 

(Allegheny—Sandstone, limestone shale, coal. 

Pennsylvanian.jPottsville—Sandstone, shale and coal. 

^ Chester—Shales, limestone 

Mississippian.land sandstones. 

Structural conditions will be difficult to determine in this county because 
of the absence over a large part of the County of persistent layers which 
may be used as key horizons. In limited areas it may be possible to use 
some of the coal beds and in limited areas in the southeastern and the 
northeastern parts of the county to use some of the limestones of the 
Chester as key horizons. 

Birdseye. A small oil and gas field has been developed about Birdseye. 
Fourteen wells were drilled in Dubois, Crawford and Perry, oil was 
obtained in ten, gas in one and three were nonproductive. The depth of 
the oil bearing sand varied in the various wells from 980 feet to 1,Q10 
feet. The oil sand is probably in the Devonian limestone and occurs 
about ten feet below the top of the limestone. A black or brownish black 
shale forty feet thick overlies the limestone. 

Patoka Township. A well drilled on the property of J. E. Shertz and 
Company in Section 36 was plugged in 1911. 

About ten wells have been drilled in the county, five of which were dry. 


ELKHART COUNTY 

Glacial drift covers the bed rock in this county to a depth of from 50 to 
200 feet. The drift overlies the eroded surface of the Devonian and 
Mississippian strata which dip northward. 

Structural conditions of the durolith cannot be determined by direct 
observation because the outcrop of the durolith is concealed by the drift. 
Subsurface work is prevented by the absence of sufficient well records. 
The record of a well drilled at Elkhart is as follows: 1 


Section of Well No. 1 

Drift . 122 feet. 

Subcarboniferous shale (gray shale). 213 “ 

Hamilton black shale. 215 “ 

Corniferous limestone . 65 “ 


“At this depth the well was abandoned under the erroneous belief that 
the drill had passed through the Hudson River and the Utica shales, and 
that the Corniferous was Trenton limestone.” 









9 ?> 


Tlie record of a well drilled at Goshen is as follows: 


Section of Well No. 2 

Drift ... 165 feet. 

Shale, sub-carboniferous and Devonian ... 308 “ 

Corniferous limestone . 60 “ 

Water lime . 32 “ 

Niagara limestone . 728 “ 

Hudson River limestone and shale. 307 “ 

Utica shale . 215 “ 

Trenton limestone . 239 “ 


Total depth .2054 “ 

Trenton below sea level.1026 “ 

Yielded no gas. 


Railroad Elevations 

Elkhart, 753.0; Dunlap, 784.5; Goshen, 797.6; Millersburg, 879.7; More¬ 
house, 761.4; Bristol, 771.8; Vistula, 794.2; Williams, 845.5; Burns, 894.6; 
Middlebury, 852.1; Pleasant Valley, 749.9; New Paris, 809. 


FAYETTE COUNTY 

The Pleistocene deposits in this county range in thickness from 25 feet 
to more than 100 feet. The strata underlying the Pleistocene belong to 
the Silurian and Devonian periods. The outcrops of these rocks being 
concealed by the glacial drift, the determination of the structural condi¬ 
tions favorable to the accumulation of oil and gas is difficult. The surface 
of the Trenton limestone for the greater part if not all of this County lies 
above sea level and lies 700 to 900 feet below the surface. At 
Connersville the following well records were obtained: 2 


Section of Well No. 1 

Drift, Hudson River and Utica. 712 feet. 

Trenton limestone . 522 “ 

Potsdam sandstone . 12 “ 


Total depth .1246 “ 

Trenton above sea level. 120 

Yielded a small flow of gas. 

Section of Well No. 2 

Drift . 90 feet. 

Hudson River and Utica. 615 

Trenton limestone . 61 


Total depth . 766 

Trenton above sea level. 117 

Yielded a small flow of gas. 
























94 


Harrison Township. A deep well was drilled oil the W. H. Wolf 
property in Section 8 and abandoned in 1912. 

Posey Township. A well was drilled on the John Copeland property in 
Section 3, and abandoned in 1911. Another well was drilled on the 
property of J. Lambertson in Section 10 and abandoned in 1912. 

Gas was obtained in Connersville, Jackson and Posey Townships. 


FLOYD COUNTY 


Floyd County lies in the unglaciated area of Indiana. The strata which 
outcrop in the county belong to the Devonian, Mississippian and Quater¬ 
nary periods. The sub-divisions present are represented in the following 
table: 


Quaternary 


Mississippian 


Devonian. 


^ Recent—Alluvium. 

I Pleistocene—Residuals. 

Mitchell limestone. 

Salem limestone. 

Harrodsburg limestone. 
Knobstone, shales and sandstones. 
Rockford limestones. 
jNew Albany—Shale, 
j Sellersburg—Limestone. 


By using the contact of the Knobstone and the Harrodsburg it may be 
possible to determine the structural conditions of a part of this County. 
The contact of the New Albany and the Rockford might also be used as a 
key horizon. 

The following is the record of a well drilled at New Albany: 


Section of Well No. 1". 


Clay and sub-carboniferous shale. 80 feet. 

Devonian shale . 104 “ 

Corniferous limestone . 69 “ 

Niagara limestone . 209 “ 

Hudson River and Utica. 545 “ 

Trenton limestone . 500 “ 


Total depth .1507 “ 

Yielded no gas or oil. 

Railroad Elevations 

New Albany, 498.8; Smith, 565; Floyd, 445.8; Georgetown, 710. 


FOUNTAIN COUNTY 

Underlying the glacial drift of this County are strata belonging to the 
Knobstone, Warsaw, Salem and Chester (?) divisions of the Mississippian 
and to the Pottsville and the Allegheny divisions of the Pennsylvanian 
periods. The glacial drift which largely conceals these formations varies 















in thickness from a few feet to more than one hundred feet. Whether or 
not structural conditions favorable to the accumulation of oil and gas 
exist in this County, can be determined only from subsurface data. 
Surficial methods cannot be used because of the glacial covering which 
conceals the outcrops. From reliable data collected in the form of 
well, shaft and outcrop records, it may be possible to determine the 
structural conditions. 

Van Buren Township. Near Veedersburg three wells were drilled to 
depths of 1,000 feet. In one of them, gas occurred at 610 feet. These 
wells probably finished in the Devonian. 

Two wells were drilled six miles south of Veedersburg to depths of 
900 feet. 

Cain Township. A well was drilled by the Fountain County Oil and 
Gas Company, 4 l / 2 miles southwest of Hillsboro. The log of the well 
follows: 


Well No. 1 


Drilling log of the David Keller well. 

Yellow clay and gravel. 0 to 30 feet. 

Sand white . 30 “ 75 “ 

Shale gray . 75 “ 118 “ 

Sand white . 118 “ 220 “ 

Sand, limey, coarse. 220 “ 265 “ 

Sand, showing oil... 265 “ 273 “ 

Sand, limey, coarse. 273 “ 290 “ 

Sand, very light lime. 290 “ 305 

Lime, very coarse. 305 “ 315 

Shale, gray . 315 “ 350 

Sand . 350 “ 400 “ 

Slate, white . 400 “ 415 

Lime, hard, coarse. 415 “ 430 

Shale, gray . 430 “ 545 

Lime, hard, coarse. 545 “ 550 

Shale, gray .-. 550 “ 565 

Lime, blue, soft. 565 “ 595 

Lime, hard . 595 “ 635 

Shale, gray . 635 “ 685 

Clay, green . 685 “ 725 

Slate, white . 725 “ 735 

Shale, black . 735 “ 755 

Shale, brown . 755 “ 800 

Slate, white . 800 “ 810 

Shale, brown . 810 “ 840 

Sand, hard, brown. 840 “ 860 

Sand, odor of oil. 860 “ 890 

Niagara lime, containing salt 

water . 890 “ 938 “ 






























96 


Railroad Elevations 

Mellott, 699.0; Veedersburg, 604.3; Cates, 644.7; Silverwood, 516.0; 
Attica, 543.0; Rob Roy, 634.0; Aylesworth, 635.0; Stone Bluff, 622.0. 


FRANKLIN COUNTY 


The subsurface formations of this county belong to the Ordovician and 
the Silurian periods. They are covered largely by a mantle of glacial drift. 

The divisions which are probably represented in the durolith are as 
follows: 


Silurian 


Ordovician 


'Louisville limestone. 

Waldron shale. 

. Laurel limestone. 

Osgood limestone and shale. 

Brassfield. 

Richmond, shales and limestones. 

Maysville shales, limestone and sandstones. 
.< Eden, shales, limestones and sandstones. 
Trenton limestones. 

St. Peter’s sandstone. 


Brookville Township. Seven wells were, drilled in the vicinity of 
Brookville. The log of a well drilled in White Water River valley is as 


follows: 

Drift . 157 feet. 

Shale . 243 “ 

Trenton and St. Peter. 854 “ 


Total depth .1254 “ 

Altitude of well. 575 “ 

Salt water at. 800 “ 


Well, No. 2, located in town reached the Trenton at 550 feet at an 
Altitude of 700 feet. The surface of the Trenton is 150 feet above sea 
level. A small supply of gas was obtained in this township and in 
Laurel Township. 


Railroad Elevations 

Peoria, 999; Raymond, 1,008; Bath, 1,012. 

FULTON COUNTY 

Strata belonging to the Silurian and Devonian periods lie beneath the 
glacial drift in this County. The drift attains a thickness of more than 
300 feet. 

The concealment of the strata of the durolith by the drift makes it 
impossible to determine the structural conditions by surficial methods. 
The accumulation of the logs of deep wells will greatly aid in such deter¬ 
mination. The County lies on the north slope of the Cincinnati Arch and 
the Trenton surface which lies nearest sea level near the southern 
boundary of the County is 351 feet below sea level at Rochester. 















Fig. 34. Map of Gibson County, showing location of oil fields. Only a few wells indicated. 





















































































































































DT 


The section of a well drilled at Rochester is given below 

Section of Well No. 1 


Drift . 245 feet. 

Niagara limestone . 525 “ 

Hudson River and Utica. 391 “ 

Trenton limestone . 24 “ 


Total depth .1185 “ 

Trenton below sea level. 351 “ 

Yielded no gas. 

Record of well drilled at Kewana: 2 


Section of Well No. 1 


Drift . 170 feet. 

Limestone and shale. 879 “ 

Trenton limestone . 29 “ 

Total depth .1078 “ 

Trenton below sea level. 278 “ 

Did not yield gas or oil. 


GIBSON COUNTY 

The strata underlying the glacial drift in Gibson County are the coal 
measures of the Pennsylvanian period. The mantle of drift has been 
removed in places so that the outcrops of- the bed rock occur in the 
northern and central parts of the County. The extreme southern part of 
the County was not glaciated. The structural conditions of the bed rock 
can not he determined from a study of surficial conditions. However 
the use of the subsurface data combined with such surficial data as may 
be obtained from outcrops, may make it possible to locate structures 
favorable to the accumulation of oil and gas. Several small oil pools 
have been located in this County but largely, if not wholly, by using the 
drill. The position of these pools is given in the accompanying map. 
There are probably three sands in this County from which oil has been 
obtained. These sands probably all belong to the Pennsylvanian group 
of rocks or possibly the lower to the Chester. 

White River Township. Eight miles northwest of Princeton, gas was 
obtained at 1,300 feet. At Hazelton three wells were drilled to 2,000 feet. 
Oil was obtained and this is known as the Hazelton pool. 

Patoka Township. Wells in Sections 2, 9, 10 and 32, oil was obtained 
in 2 at 871 feet in the Princeton sand. 

Center Township. S. E. 14 of the S. W. 14 of Section 36, bore drilled 
came in dry. (Rept. 1908) Oil is reported in a well drilled near Francisco 
to a depth of 1,690 feet. 

One well in Oakland City 3 field, S. W. 14 of the N. W. 14 of Section 13, 
was reported to have reached a sand lower than the Oakland City sand 














98 


and to yield an oil of good gravity and of strong sulphur smell. The 
Oakland City sand in this well was found at 1,228 feet and was eight feet 
thick. The two lenses yielded an initial output of 150 barrels. The stray 
sand was found at a lower depth at 1,284 feet and was reported to be 18 
feet thick, yielding the sulphur oil. 

The No. 1 well on the Montgomery lease, completed in 1907, drilled to 
a depth of 1,000 feet, sand struck at 845 feet, 87 feet of drive pipe used; 
dry well. No. 17, drilled to a total depth of 862 feet, sand at 820 feet, 
drive pipe, eighty feet ten inches; sixty-five barrel well, completed 
March, 1907. No. 18, completed April, 1907, total depth, 865 feet; sand at 
820 feet; 90 feet of drive pipe; 92 barrel well. 

Well drilled on the Skinner farm, near Oakland City, total depth 1,300 
feet; encountered salt water, dry well. 

H. A. Mauck lease, S. W. *4 of Section 19; drive pipe (10 inch) 95 feet; 
casing (8 inch), 130 feet; casing (6^4 inch) 785 feet; top of sand 918 feet. 

Record of a well drilled in Washington Township. L. C. Frederick 


farm, No. 4. 


Depth 

Surface . 

. 30 

30 

Sand . 

. 20 

50 

Shale . 

. 20 

70 

Broken sand . 

. 80 

150 Cased with 10 

Black slate . 

. 50 

200 

Sand, dry . 

. 60 

260 

Shale . 

. 40 

300 

Broken sand . 

. 20 

320 Some water 

Black slate . 

. 50 

370 

Shale . 

. 30 

400 

Lime shell . 

. 10 

410 

Shale . 

. 90 

500 

Black slate . 

. 30 

530 

Shale .. 

. 70 

600 

Broken lime . 

. 20 

620 Some water 

Black slate . 

. 40 

660 

Hard lime . 

. 10 

670 

Coal . 

. 2 

672 2' coal 

Shale . 

. 50 

722 

Sand . 

. 30 

752 

Black slate . 

. 50 

802 

Shale . 

. 40 

842 

Black slate . 

. 20 

862 

Sandy shale . 

. 60 

022 

Black slate . 

. 40 

962 

Lime . 

. 10 

070 

Shale . 

. 35 

1007 

Sand . 

. 20 

1027 

Shale ... 

. 5 

1032 

Sandy lime . 

. 5 

1037 

Oil sand . 

. 6 

1041 

Total depth . 


1043 


































90 


Washington Township, well of McNeece, 2 miles east of Hazelton. 


Lime and slate. 

Sand (dry). 

Slate . 

Sand (4 Bailer water). 

Slate . 

Broken sand (dry). 

Slate . 

Sand (soft) strong flow water.. 

Sand (no water). 

Slate . 

Sand (dry). 

Slate . 

Lime rock. 

Slate . 

Slate . 

Lime rock. 

Slate . 

Lime rock. 

Slate and shell. 

White sand. 

Slate . 

Lime rock... 

Broken sand and shale. 

Sand (strong flow of water). 

Lime rock. 

Slate . 

Red rock. 

Lime rock. 

Slate . 

Lime rock. 

Slate . 

Sandy (dry). 

Red rock. 

Lime rock. 

White sand. 

Lime rock. 

Slate . 

Lime rock. 

Sand (dry). 

Lime rock. 

Oil sand (slight show). 

Lime rock. 

Lime rock. 

Total depth. 


600 to 

700 feet. 

700 " 

710 

it 

710 " 

780 

it 

780 “ 

830 

it 

830 “ 

850 

a 

850 “ 

894 

n 

894 “ 

920 

u 

920 “ 

975 

it 

975 “ 

980 

66 

980 “ 

1050 

66 

1050 “ 

1080 

66 

1080 “ 

1170 

66 

1170 “ 

1190 

66 

1190 “ 

1228 

66 

1228 “ 

1248 

66 

1248 “ 

1295 

66 

1295 “ 

1325 

66 

1325 “ 

1327 

66 

1327 “ 

1335 

66 

1335 “ 

1340 

66 

1340 “ 

1405 

66 

1405 “ 

1420 

66 

1420 “ 

1450 

66 

1450 “ 

1500 

66 

1500 “ 

1520 

66 

1520 “ 

1525 

66 

1525 “ 

1530 

66 

1530 “ 

1535 

66 

1535 “ 

1573 

66 

1573 “ 

1590 

66 

1590 “ 

1595 

66 

1595 “ 

1605 

66 

1605 “ 

1610 

66 

1610 “ 

1620 

66 

1620 “ 

1680 

66 

1680 “ 

1690 

66 

1690 “ 

1718 

66 

1718 “ 

1722 

66 

1722 “ 

1740 

66 

1740 “ 

1800 

66 

1800 “ 

1806 

66 

1806 “ 

1870 

66 

1870 “ 

2000 

66 


2000 

feet 


* 


Log of well No. 5 on the L. C. Frederick farm, Washington Township, 


Gibson County. 

Surface 
Sand .. 


to 30 feet. 
“ 60 “ 















































100 


Fire clay. 



Coal . 


. “ 6S 

Slate . 


. “ 80 

Sand . 


. “ 125 

Dark slate. 


. “ 160 

Shale . 


“ 195 

Sand and water. 


. “ 220 

Slate . 


. “ 235 

Lime ... 


. “ 245 

Shale ... 


. “ 285 

Sand (dry). 


. “ 295 

Shale . 


. “ 320 

Broken lime... 


. “ 335 

Shale . 


. “ 355 

Sand .. 


. “ 365 

Slate . 


. “ 370 

Lime . 


. “ 378 

Shale . 


. “ 420 

Lime . 


. “ 425 

Brown shale. 


. “ 440 

Slate .. 


. “ 465 

Shale . 


. “ 493 

Coal . 


. “ 504 

Fire clay. 


. “ 508 

Sand . 


. “ 515 

Shale . 


. “ 555 

Lime . 


. “ 562 

Shale . 


. “ 590 

Brown shale. 


. “ 620 

Sandy lime. 


. “ 625 

Brown shale. 


. “ 675 

Broken lime. 


. “ 685 

Slate . 


. “ 700 

Lime . 


. “ 710 

Sand . 


. “ 725 

Slate . 


. “ 730 

Sand ... 


. “ 750 

Sandy shale...... 


. “ 800 

Lime . 


“ 810 

Shale . 


. “ 825 

Slate . 


. “ 875 

Shale ... 


. “ 900 

Sand . 


. “ 920 

Shale . 


. “ 950 

Water sand. 


. “ 965 

Shale . 


. “ 1005 

Slate . 


. “ 1025 

Broken sand. 


. “ 1065 


















































101 


Sand . 

Shale . 

Lime . 

Slate . 

Lime . 

Slate . 

Lime shell. 

Slate . 

Shale . 

Lime . 

Broken sand. 

Hoover sand. 

Shale . 

Broken sand. 

Sand, gas at 1328 

Brake . 

Lime . 

Greene shale. 

Lime . 

Shale . 

Lime . 

Shale . 

Lime . 

Shale . 

Broken sand. 

Lime . 

Sand . 


to 1165 feet 
“ 1185 “ 

“ 1195 “ 

“ 1220 “ 

“ 1225 “ 

“ 1235 “ 

“ 1240 “ 

“ 1245 “ 

“ 1260 “ 

“ 1270 “ 

“ 1280 “ Hoover 

“ 1305 “ 

“ 1310 “ 

“ 1320 “ Gas sand 

“ 1355 “ 

“ 1358 “ 

“ 1380 " 

“ 1405 “ 

“ 1415 “ 

“ 1430 “ 

“ 1450 “ 

“ 1455 “ 

“ 1455 “ 

“ 1470 “ 

“ 1485 “ 

“ 1490 “ 

“ 1500 “ 


Well No. 3 on the John Zimmerman farm; 200 feet to East line, 665 
feet to South line. Section 7, Washington Township, Gibson County. 

Soil . to 1 foot. 

Dark clay. “ 20 feet. 

Gravel . “ 22 “ 

Dark slate. “ 40 

Dark lime. “ 44 

Dark slate. “ 98 

Gray sand. “ 114 

Dark slate. “ 157 

Coal . “ 161 “ 

Dark slate. “ 179 

Gray lime. “ 185 

Dark slate. “ 186 

Gray lime. “ 191 

Dark slate. “ 194 

Gray lime. “ 200 

Gray sand. “ 209 

Black slate. “ 240 

Light slate. “ 245 

Dark slate. “ 300 
















































Light sand.to 32C 

Gray sand, water. “ 365 

Gray lime. “ 369 

Coal . “ 372 

Gray sand. “ 386 

Dark slate. “ 421 

Gray sand. “ 431 

Dark slate. “ 480 

Brown slate. “ 490 

Dark slate. “ 525 

Brown lime. “ 535 

Black slate. “ 540 

Gray lime. “ 546 

Gray sand. “ 556 

Light slate. “ 566 

Dark slate. “ 578 

Gray lime. “ 583 

Light slate.. “ 610 

Coal . “ 615 

Dark slate. “ 625 

Gray lime. “ 630 

Black slate. “ 760 

Gray sand. “ 775 

Dark slate. “ 815 

Gray sand. “ 825 

Dark slate. “ 830 

Gray sand. “ 850 

Dark slate. “ 865 

Gray sand. “ 895 

Brown lime. “ 900 

Black slate. “ 908 

Gray lime. “ 912 

Black slate. “ 925 

Gray sand. “ 939 

Dark slate. “ 1001 

Black slate. “ 1004 

Dark slate. “ 1016 

Gray sand.*.. “ 1025 

Dark slate. “ 1030 

Gray sand:. “ 1035 

Dark slate. “ 1070 

Gray sand. “ 1230 

Dark slate. “ 1245 

Dark lime. “ 1247 

Light slate. “ 1254 

Gray sand. “ 1258 

Dark slate. “ 1265 

Gray sand, gas. “ 1279 

Dark slate. “ 1295 

Gray lime. “ 1306 




















































ion 


Dark slate.t> 1317 foot 

Gray sand, first oil. “ 1335 “ 

Dark slate. “ 1337 “ 

Gray lime. “ 1339 “ 

Dark slate. “ 1343 “ 


Well No. 4 on the John Zimmerman farm, 200 feet to East line, 200 
feet to South line. Section 7, Washington Township, Gibson County. 

Soil . to 1 foot. 


Yellow clay 
Light slate. 
Dark slate... 
Dark sand... 
Dark slate . 
Dark lime... 
Dark slate . 
Gray sand... 
Light slate . 
Gray lime ... 
Dark slate... 

Coal . 

Dark slate . 
Gray lime... 
Light slate. 
Gray sand... 
Dark slate... 
Gray sand... 
Dark slate . 
Dark sand... 
Dark slate . 
Dark sand... 
Dark slate . 
Light sand . 
Black lime . 
Dark slate . 
Light slate. 
Light sand . 
Light slate. 
Dark slate . 
Black slate. 
Gray lime ... 

Coal . 

Dark slate . 


“ 12 feet. 

“ 54 “ 

“ 73 “ 

“ 83 “ 

“ 108 “ 

“ 110 “ 

“ 113 “ 

“ 124 “ 

“ 127 “ 

“ 133 “ 

“ 170 “ 

“ 174 “ 

“ 197 “ 

“ 208 “ 

“ 225 “ 

“ 233 “ 

“ '294 “ 

“ 303 “ 

“ 311 “ 

“ 314 “ 

“ 325 “ 

“ 358 “ 

“ 360 “ 

“ 385 “ 

“ 392 “ 

“ 397 “ 

“ 405 “ 

“ 414 “ 

“ 462 “ 

“ 500 “ 

“ 506 “ 

“ 510 “ 

“ 512 “ 

“ 526 “ 


Dark lime.. 
Dark slate 
Gray lime.. 

Coal . 

Light slate 
Light sand 
Dark slate 


“ 528 “ 

“ 536 “ 

“ 540 “ 

“ 547 “ 

“ 572 “ 

“ 578 “ 

“ 605 “ 

















































Light slate. 

Dark slate. 

Gray lime. 

Light slate. 

Dark slate. 

Gray lime. 

Light slate.. 

Gray sand. 

Dark slate.. 

Light sand . 

Brown lime. 

Light sand . 

Dark slate. 

Dark sand. 

Gray lime. 

Light slate. 

Dark slate. 

Light sand . 

Dark slate. 

Light sand . 

Dark slate. 

Light sand . 

Dark slate. 

Gray sand. 

Light sand. 

Dark slate. 

* 

Gray lime. 

Light slate. 

Light sand. 

Light slate. 

Light sand. 

Light slate. 

Gray sand. 

Dark slate. 

Light slate. 

Dark lime. 

Dark slate. 

Dark sand. 

Dark slate. 

Light sand. 

Light slate. 

Light sand. 

Dark slate.. 

Gray sand. 

Brown lime. 

Dark slate. 

Gray sand, first oil at 1338 
Dark slate. 


to 635 
“ 650 
“ 655 
“ 665 
“ 776 
“ 784 
“ 797 
“ 808 
“ 838 
“ 862 
“ 865 
“ 872 
“ 874 
“ 910 
“ 917 
“ 930 
“ 942 
“ 950 
" 955 
“ 960 
“ 1012 
“ 1020 
“ 1025 
“ 1033 
“ 1042 
“ 1050 
“ 1052 
“ 1112 
“ 1160 
“ 1175 
“ 1212 
“ 1217 
“ 1246 
“ 1250 
“ 1271 
“ 1273 
“ 1280 
“ 1288 
“ 1290 
“ 1295 
“ 1299 
“ 1303 
“ 1314 
“ 1316 
“ 1324 
“ 1336 
“ 1353 
“1361 


feet 


ft 

it 

it 

a 

tt 

a 

a 

tt 

tt 

a 

a 

tt 

it 

tt 

tt 

tt 

a 

tt 

a 

tt 

tt 


•a 


a 

tt 

tt 

tt 


















































105 


Well No. 1, on the farm of Mary Shawhan, 200 feet to East line/700 
teet to South line. Section 1, Washington Township, Gibson County. 
Yellow clay. to 42 feet. 


Light slate. 

Gray lime. 

Light slate. 

Dark slate. 

Light slate. 

Light lime, water at 73 ft 

Light slate. 

Coal . 

Light slate. 

Dark lime. 

Light slate. 

Coal . 

Light slate. 

Light sancl. 

Dark slate. 

Light sancl. 

Gray lime. 

Light slate. 

Gray lime. 

Dark slate. 

Coal . 

Dark slate. 

Dark lime. 

Light slate.. 

Dark slate. 

Dark slate. 

Light slate. 

Dark slate.. 

Light slate. 

Dark slate. 

Light slate. 

Dark lime. 

Dark slate. 

Light slate. 

Dark slate. 

Light slate. 

Dark slate. 

Light sand. 

Dark slate. 

Gray lime. 

Dark slate. 

Gray lime. 

Dark slate. 

Light lime. 

Dark slate. 

Gray lime. 


“ 48 “ 

“ 51 “ 

“ 60 “ 
“ 68 “ 
“ 71 “ 

“ 75 “ 

“ 100 “ 
“ 104 “ 

“ 176 “ 

“ 180 “ 
“ 223 “ 

“ 225 “ 

“ 230 “ 

“ 240 “ 

“ 254 “ 

“ 269 “ 

“ 274 “ 

“ 276 “ 

“ 279 “ 

“ 305 “ 

“ 309 “ 

“ 417 “ 

“ 423 “ 

“ 506 “ 

“ 520 “ 

“ 545 “ 

“ 555 “ 

“ 588 “ 

“ 602 “ 
“ 615 “ 

“ 630 “ 

“ 632 “ 

“ 650 “ 

“ 662 “ 
“ 750 “ 

“ 770 “ 

“ 775 “ 

“ 780 “ 

“ 787 “ 

“ 790 “ 

“ 835 “ 

“ 839 “ 

“ 898 “ 

“ 901 “ 

“ 940 “ 

“ 948 “ 


















































Dark slate 


to 980 feet 


Light lime. “ 1015 

Dark slate. “ 1045 

Gray sand. “ 1075 

Light sand. “ 1103 

Dark slate. “ 1114 

Light sand. “ 1151 

Dark slate. “ 1158 

Gray sand. “ 1195 

Dark slate. “ 1200 

Gray sand. “ 1216 

Dark slate. “ 1218 

Light sand. “ 1294 

Dark slate. “ 1300 

Brown lime. “ 1301 

Dark slate. “ 1338 

Gray sand. “ 1343 

Dark slate. “ 1350 

Gray lime. “ 1373 

Dark slate. “ 1384 

Gray sand. “ 1390 

Dark slate. “ 1393 

Gray lime. “ 1400 

Light slate. “ 1402 

Gray lime. “ 1410 

Dark slate. “ 1423 

Gray lime. “ 1424 

Gray sand. “ 1430 

White sand, hole full of water at 1436 “ 1490 

Gray lime. “ 1498 

Dark slate. “ 1504 

Gray lime. “ 1506 

Dark slate. “ 1512 

Dark lime. “ 1529 

Dark slate. “ 1531 

Light sand. “ 1533 

Light sand. “ 1537 

Gray lime. “ 1539 

Light sand. “ 1550 

Dark slate. “ 1560 

Brown lime. “ 1569 

Dark slate. “ 1572 

Gray sand. “ 1584 

Light sand. “ 15S9 

Dark sand. “ 1594 

Light sand. “ 1601 

Light sand. “ 1612 

Dark slate. “ 1617 


i 


shows gas 
barren 


gas sand 


















































Well No. 1, farm of Geo. Colvin, 164 feet to South line, 237 feet to West 
line. Section 6, Washington Township, Gibson County. 


Yellow clay 
Light slate .. 
Gray lime.... 
Dark slate.... 
Light lime .. 
Light sand . 
Dark slate . 
Gray lime ... 
Light slate. 
Light lime... 
Dark slate . 
Light sand . 
Dark slate . 
Light sand . 
Dark slate . 
Light lime... 
Gray sand... 
Light slate . 
Gray slate . 
Light slate. 
Gray lime ... 
Light slate 
Gray lime ... 
Light sand 
Dark slate.. 

Coal . 

Light slate 

Coal . 

Gray lime .. 
Dark slate 
Light lime 
Light slate 
Dark slate 
Gray sand.. 
Dark slate.. 
Gray lime.. 
Dark slate.. 
Gray lime 
Dark slate.. 
Gray sand.. 
Dark slate.. 
Gray sand.. 
Dark slate 
Gray lime.. 
Dark slate 
Gray sand. 
Dark slate 
Gray sand. 


to 35 feet. 
“ 45 “ 

“ 49 “ 

“ 80 “ 

“ 100 “ 

“ 145 “ 

“ 200 “ 

“ 230 “ 

“ 235 “ 

“ 275 “ 

“ 285 “ 

“ 292 “ 

“ 295 “ 

“ 300 “ 

“ 340 “ 

“ 350 “ 

“ 380 “ 

“ 382 “ 

“ 395 “ 

“ 397 “ 

“ 400 “ 

“ 408 “ 

“ 418 “ 

“ 425 “ 

“ 475 “ 

“ 480 “ 

“ 530 “ 

“ 533 “ 

“ 535 “ 

“ 570 “ 

“ 590 “ 

“ 600 “ 

“ 690 “ 

“ 696 “ 

“ 715 “ 

“ 721 “ 

“ 725 “ 

“ 735 “ 

“ 770 “ 

“ 780 “ 

“ 795 “ 

“ 800 “ 

“ 820 “ 

“ 827 “ 

“ 833 “ 

“ 835 “ 

“ 845 “ 

“ 860 “ 


















































Dark slate. 

Gray lime. 

Dark slate. 

Gray sand. 

Dark slate. 

Light sand. 

Dark slate. 

Coal . 

Light sand. 

Dark slate. 

Gray sand. 

Dark slate. 

Brown sand, oil 
Light sand. 


to 907 feet 
“ 910 “ 

“ 933 “ 

“ 947 “ 

“ 955 “ 

“ 963 “ 

“ 1010 “ 

“ 1014 “ 

“ 1027 “ 

“ 1040 “ 

“ 1050 “ 

“ 1060 “ 

“ 1062 “ 

“ 1066 “ 


Well No. 1 on the Phoebe Hayden farm, 200 feet to North line, 200 feet 
to East line. Section 7, Washington Township, Gibson County. 

Casing Record 

Thirteen feet wood conductor; 1,270 feet 8% inch casing; 142 feet 7 
inch casing (liner). 

Shot Record 

One hundred forty quarts, 1,375 feet to 1,398 feet. 


Formation Record 

Formation 

Soil . 

Yellow clay .... 

Quick sand. 

Yellow clay .... 

Dark lime. 

Dark slate........ 

Light slate. 

Dark lime. 

Light slate. 

Dark lime. 

Dark slate. 

Light slate. 

Gray lime. 

Dark slate. 

Gray lime. 

Dark slate. 

Gray lime. 

Dark slate. 

Gray lime. 

Dark slate. 

Light slate. 

White lime. 

Dark slate. 

Sand and lime 
Gray lime. 


Depth 

to 1 foot. 

“ 20 feet. 

“ 28 " 

“ 43 *• 

“ 53 “ 

“ 73 “ 

it rjrj a 

“ 79 “ 

“ 98 “ 

“ 104 “ 

“ 155 “ 

“ 160 “ 

“ 220 “ 

“ 232 “ 

“ 243 “ 

“ 248 “ 

“ 250 “ 

“ 255 “ 

“ 295 “ 12i/ 2 " set at 256 

“ 325 “ 

“ 335 “ 

“ 340 “ 

“ 380 “ 

“ 400 “ 

“ 409 “ 












































100 


Formation 

Dark slate.... 
Gray lime.... 
Dark slate .. 
Light sand .. 
Gray lime .... 
White lime.. 
White slate 
Light sand ... 
Light slate.. 
Gray lime .... 
Light slate .. 
Dark slate.... 

Coal . 

White slate.. 
White lime.. 
Brown slate 
Dark slate ... 
Gray lime.... 
Dark slate.... 
Gray lime.... 
Dark slate.... 
Gray lime..... 
Light slate... 
Dark slate..... 
White slate . 
Dark slate ... 
Gray lime..... 
Dark slate ... 
White slate 

Dark slate. 

Gray lime. 

Dark slate ... 
Dark slate.... 

Gray, lime. 

Dark slate ... 

Dark sand. 

Dark slate ... 

Dark sand. 

Dark slate ... 
White lime... 
Brown sand . 
Brown slate . 

Gray lime. 

Dark slate. 

Gray lime. 

Dark slate ... 

Gray sand. 

White slate. 


Depth 


to 

419 

fe 

a 

423 

it 

tt 

428 

it 

a 

435 

it 

a 

455 

it 

it 

465 

a 

a 

470 

a 

a 

474 

a 

a 

475 

a 

a 

479 

a 

a 

481 

a 

a 

550 

a 

a 

554 

a 

a 

565 

a 

a 

573 

a 

a 

580 

a 

a 

600 

a 

a 

609 

a 

a 

621 

a 

a 

626 

a 

a 

629 

a 

a 

641 

a 

a 

648 

a 

a 

650 

a 

a 

676 

a 

a 

705 

a 

a 

710 

a 

a 

715 

a 

a 

722 

a 

a 

770 

it 

tt 

774 

it 

a 

824 

a 

a 

830 

a 

a 

834 

a 

a 

840 

a 

a 

845 

a 

a 

849 

a 

a 

860 

a 

a 

865 

a 

a 

869 

a 

a 

874 

a 

a 

880 

a 

a 

884 

it 

a 

885 

tt 

a 

889 

tt 

a 

900 

tt 

a 

950 

tt 

a 

951 

tt 


set at 829' 


















































110 


Formation Depth 

Gray sand.. to 990 foot 

Dark slate. “ 1012 “ 

Gray lime. “ 1020 “ 

Light sand. “ 1030 “ 

Dark slate. “ 1128 “ 

Gray sand. “ 1137 “ 

Dark slate. “ 1170 “ 

Gray sand. “ 1180 “ 

Dark slate. “ 1190 “ 

Gray lime. “ 1195 “ 

Gray sand. “ 1218 “ 

Dark slate. “ 1240 “ 

Gray sand. “ 1245 “ 

Brown lime. “ 1252 “ 

Dark slate. “ 1260 “ 

Gray sand.“ 1269 “ 

Dark slate. “ 1270 “ 

Brown lime. “ 1272 “ 8*4" set at 1270' 

Dark slate. “ 1286 “ 

Dark lime. “ 1289 “ 

Dark slate. “ 1345 “ 

Light sand. “ 1347 “ 

Dark slate. “ 1353 “ 

Gray lime. “ 1360 “ 

Dark slate. “ 1374 “ 

Gray sand. “ 1398 “ 

Dark slate. “ 1402 “ 


First shows oil at 1375 feet. 


Well No. 2 on farm of Phoebe Hayden, 200 feet to North line, 200 feet to 
West line. Washington Township, Section 7, Gibson County. 

Shot Record 

One hundred quarts, 1,358 feet to 1,381 feet. 

Formation Record 


Formation 


Total Depth 


Soil . 

. to 

1 

foot. 

Yellow clay. 

a 

23 

feet. 

Dark slate. 

a 

37 

a 

Light slate. 

a 

42 

a 

Gray lime. 

a 

66 

a 

Light slate. 

a 

73 

a 

Coal . 

a 

75 

a 

Dark slate. 

n 

91 

a 

Gray sand. 

a 

94 

a 

Light slate. 

a 

112 

a 

Dark slate. 

a 

122 

a 

Gray sand. 

a 

140 

ii 

Light sand. 

i< 

175 

a 











































Formation 

Light slate.to 

Coal . “ 

Light slate. “ 

Gray lime. “ 

Light slate. “ 

White sand. “ 

Dark slate. “ 

Gray lime. “ 

Dark slate. “ 

Light slate. “ 

Dark sand. “ 

Dark slate.:. “ 

Light sand. “ 

Dark slate. “ 

Gray sand. “ 

Dark slate. “ 

Light slate. “ 

Dark slate. “ 

Black slate. “ 

Dark slate. “ 

Coal . “ 

Gray lime. “ 

Dark slate. “ 

Gray lime.~. “ 

Light slate. 

Dark slate. “ 

Gray lime. 

Light slate. 

Coal . “ 

Light slate. 

Dark slate. 

Gray lime. 

Dark slate. 

Light sand. 

Dark slate. 

Gray sand. 

Dark slate. 

Gray sand. 

Dark slate. 

Gray sand. 

Dark slate. 

Dark sand. 

Dark slate. 

Coal . 

Light sand. 

Dark slate. 

Gray lime.-. 

Dark slate. 

Black slate. 


Depth 

195 feet 
201 “ 

222 “ 

230 “ 

240 “ 

261 “ 

295 “ 

298 “ 121/ 2 " set at 295' 

325 “ 

360 “ 

373 “ 

400 “ 

408 “ 

423 “ 

445 “ 

460 “ 

483 “ 

535 “ 

550 “ 

567 “ 

572 “ 

576 “ 

594 “ 

603 “ 

617 “ 

624 “ 

630 “ 

658 “ 

663 “ 

675 “ 

677 “ 

680 “ 

766 “ 

770 “ 

775 “ 

785 “ 

821 “ 

825 “ 

835 “ 

840 “ 

885 “ 

915 “ 

963 “ 

965 “ 

985 “ 

1027 “ 

1033 “ 10" set at 1029' 

1048 “ 

1052 “ 



















































112 


Formation Depth 

Dark slate.. to 1067 feet 

Light sand. “ 1100 “ 

Dark slate. “ 1120 “ 

Light sand. “ 1200 “ 

Dark slate. “ 1206 “ 

Gray sand. “ 1223 “ 

Dark slate. “ 1225 “ 

Dark lime. “ 1229 “ 

Dark slate. “ 1243 “ 

Light sand. “ 1272 “ 

Light slate. “ 1286 “ 

Gray lime. “ 1289 “ 8set at 1286' 

Dark slate. “ 1295 “ 

Dark sand. “ 1297 “ 

Dark slate. “ 1303 “ 

Dark sand. ■“ 1309 “ 

Light sand. “ 1324 “ gas 1313-1322 

Dark slate. “ 1339 “ 

Gray lime. “ 1342 “ 6%" set at 1340' 

Gray slate. “ 1360 “ 

Gray sand. “ 1362 “ 

Dark sand. “ 1366 “ 

Light sand. “ 1372 “ 

Brown sand.“ 1381 “ 


Top of sand 1360 feet. 

First show of oil 1361 feet. 

Well No. 3 on the farm of Phoebe Hayden, 200 feet to North line, 660 
feet to West line. Washington Township, Section 7, Gibson County. 

Casing Record 

Fourteen feet wood conductor, 1,298 feet 814 inch casing, 134 feet 6% 
inch casing (liner). 

Shot Record 

One hundred twenty quarts, 1,398 feet to 1,416 feet. 


Formation 

Record 



Formation 


Depth 

Soil .. 

. to 

1 

foot. 

Yellow clay. 

a 

11 

feet. 

Yellow sand. 

a 

60 

iC 

Dark slate. 

a 

65 

a 

Coal . 

u 

67 

iC 

Dark slate. 

u 

71 

ti 

Light lime... 

<1 

73 

a 

Light slate. 

it 

110 

it 

Dark slate. 

a 

127 

it 

Gray sand___ 

u 

130 

a 

Dark slate. 

u 

150 

a 

Gray lime. 

<< 

205 

U 








































113 


Formation 


Depth 

White sand .. 

. to 

225 feet 

Blue slate . 

u 

250 “ 

Gray lime . 

i 6 

253 “ 

Dark slate. 

a 

262 “ 

Light lime. 

u 

300 “ 

Dark slate. 

u 

320 “ 

Coal . 

u 

323 “ 

Dark slate. 

6 6 

330 “ 

Light slate. 

66 

400 “ 

Gray lime. 

66 

410 “ 

Light slate. 

66 

420 “ 

Gray sand . 

66 

440 “ 

Dark slate . 

66 

449 “ 

Light sand . 

66 

455 “ 

Dark lime . 

66 

463 “ 

Light sand . 

66 

480 “ 

Light slate .. 

66 

525 “ 

Dark slate . 

66 

560 “ 

Black slate . 

66 

567 “ 

Dark slate . 

66 

577 “ 

Light slate . 

66 

590 “ 

Dark slate . 

6 6 

597 “ 

Gray sand . 

66 

599 “ 

Dark slate . 

66 

603 “ 

Dark lime . 

66 

607 “ 

Coal . 

66 

612 “ 

Light sand . 

66 

625 “ 

Dark slate . 

66 

635 “ 

Dark lime . 

66 

650 “ 

Light slate . 

66 

665 “ 

Brown lime. 

66 

672 “ 

Light slate. 

66 

685 “ 

Dark lime . 

66 

700 “ 

Dark slate . 

66 

720 “ 

Dark lime . 

66 

725 “ 

Dark slate . 

66 

775 “ 

Gray sand . 

66 

788 “ 

Dark slate . 

6 6 

839 “ 

Brown lime . 

66 

845 “ 

Light slate . 

66 

855 “ 

Gray lime . 

66 

860 “ 

Gray sand . 

66 

872 “ 

Dark sand . 

66 

888 “ 

Dark sand . 

66 

925 “ 

Dark slate. 

66 

930 “ 

Dark sand. 

66 

945 “ 

Dark slate. 

66 

965 “ 

Dark sand. 

66 

984 “ 


121 / 2 " set at 250' 


10" set at 839' 


















































Formation Depth 

Dark slate.to 1012 feet 

White sand. “ 1040 “ 

Dark slate. “ 1088 “ 

Coal . “ 1090 “ 

Dark slate. “ 1114 “ 

Light slate. “ 1119 “ 

Light sand. “ 1135 “ 

Dark slate. “ 1175 “ 

Light sand. “ 1185 “ 

Dark slate. “ 1190 “ 

Dark lime. “ 1193 “ 

Dark slate. “ 1197 “ 

Dark sand. “ 1270 “ 

Dark slate. “ 1272 “ 

Brown lime. “ 1274 “ 

Light sand. “ 1298 “ water 

Brown lime. “ 1302 “ 8 M" set at 1298' 

Light sand. “ 1308 “ 

Dark slate. “ 1317 “ 

Gray lime. “ 1319 “ 

Dark slate. “ 1340 “ 

Light sand. “ 1359 “ Gas at 1357' 

Dark slate. “ 1369 “ 

Gray lime. “ 1383 “ 

Dark slate. “ 1398 “ 

Dark sand. “ 1403 “ first oil 1400' 

Light sand. “ 1408 “ 

Gray sand. “ 1415 “ 

Dark slate. “ 1425 “ 


McRoberts well No. 2. Section 6, Washington Township, Gibscn County. 
Yellow clay. to 25 feet. 


Shelly slate.. “ 38 

Light slate. “ 116 

Dark slate. “ 218 

Light lime. “ 296 

Light sand. “ 327 

Light slate. “ 340 

Light sand. “ 354 

Broken lime. “ 385 

Light slate... “ 407 

White lime. “ 449 

Light slate. “ 502 

Dark slate. “ 536 

Light slate. “ 551 

Dark slate. “ 560 

Light lime. “ 568 

Light slate. “ 621 





















































* 


p 


•r i 


( 

r 


Dark slate. 

Light slate. 

Dark slate. 

Sandy slate . 

Dark slate . 

Light slate . 

Gray lime . 

Dark slate . 

Light slate . 

Light slate.. 

Water sand . 

Dark slate . 

Brown lime . 

Dark slate . 

Sandy lime . 

Dark slate, show of oil 

Gray sand . 

Dark slate . 

White sand .^.... 

Gray lime . 

White slate . 

Light water sand. 

Dark slate . 

Gray lime . 

Brown slate . 

Brown lime . 

Brown slate . 

Light sand . 

Light slate . 

Light lime . 

Light slate . 

Light sand . 

Light lime . 

Dark slate . 

Light lime . 

Light sand, water. 

Light sand .. 

Dark slate . 

Gray lime . 

Dark sand . 

Dark slate . 

Brown lime . 

Dark slate . 

White sand . 

Brown sand. 


to 

662 

feet 

a 

748 

66 

u 

763 

66 

n 

783 

66 

a 

814 

66 

a 

833 

66 

a 

842 

66 

u 

851 

66 

a 

859 

66 

a 

909 

66 

n 

953 

6 6 

a 

984 

66 

u 

989 

66 

u 

998 

66 

66 

1003 

66 

66 

1042 

66 

66 

1057 

66 

a 

1088 

66 

a 

1129 

66 

a 

1138 

66 

66 

1152 

66 

66 

1207 

66 

66 

1240 

66 

66 

1255 

66 

66 

1286 

66 

66 

1291 

66 

66 

1315 

66 

66 

1318 

66 

66 

1326 

66 

66 

1331 

66 

66 

1337 

66 

66 

1342 

66 

66 

1347 

66 

66 

1358 

66 

66 

1363 

66 

66 

1368 

66 

66 

1382 

66 

66 

1448 

66 

66 

1453 

66 

66 

1484 

66 

66 

1494 

66 

66 

1501 

66 

66 

1516 

66 

6 6 

1522 

66 

66 

1531 

66 


Total depth of the well 1,532 feet. Heavy showing of gas. 
completed on September 25, 1919. Gas well. 


Well 















































L/Og of L. W. McDonald well No. 6 located in S. W. corner of the 
N. E. of the N. W. X A of Section 7, Washington Township, Gibson 

County. 

Top of sand. 1323 feet. 

Oil pay .'.1324 to 1341 “ 

Shelly gray sand.1341 “ 1349 “ 

Bottom of well. 1349 “ 

Finished December 4tli, 1919. 

Well No. 1, Ellis Lucas, Section 33, Montgomery Township, Gibson 
County. 


Dark soil . 

.to 

10 

feet. 

Light sand ... 

66 

50 

66 

White slate . 

66 

75 

66 

Broken sand, water. 

66 

90 

66 

White slate . 

66 

135 

66 

White sand . 

66 

145 

66 

White slate . 

66 

225 

66 

Broken sand . 

66 

235 

66 

Gray lime . 

66 

260 

6 6 

Dark slate .... 

66 

430 

66 

Lime shell . 

66 

435 

66 

White sand .. 

66 

490 

66 

White slate . 

66 

555 

66 

Lime shell .... 

66 

575 

66 

Coal . 

66 

580 

66 

Black slate . 

6 6 

610 

66 

Gray lime . 

66 

615 

66 

Sand . 

66 

645 

66 

White slate . 

66 

690 

66 

White lime . 

66 

695 

66 

Dark slate . 

66 

790 

66 

Sand ..... 

66 

800 

66 

Coal ... 

66 

806 

66 

Lime . 

66 

811 

66 

White slate . 

66 

850 

66 

Broken lime . 

66 

865 

66 

White slate . 

66 

890 

66 

White lime. 

66 

910 

66 

White slate .. 

6 6 

920 

66 

White lime . 

66 

950 

66 

Brown slate . 

66 

990 

66 

Brown lime .. 

66 

1005 

66 

Dark slate . 

66 

1007 

66 

White sand . 

66 

1095 

66 

White slate . 

66 

1100 

66 

Gray lime . 

66 

1110 

66 

Brown slate .. 

66 

1120 

66 

Brown lime . 

6 * 

1130 

6 6 















































11.7 


Light slate . 

Light sand . 

Dark slate . 

Dark lime . 

Dark sand . 

Dark slate . 

Broken sand .... 

Dark slate . 

Brown sand . 

Black slate . 

Lime shell . 

Light slate . 

Light lime . 

Light slate . 

Dark slate . 

Light slate . 

Dark slate . 

Light slate . 

Light lime . 

Light slate . 

Dark lime . 

Light slate . 

Light lime . 

Light slate. 

Dark lime . 

Light slate . 

Sharp sand . 

Black slate . 

Light lime . 

Light slate . 

Sand . 

Black slate . 

Black lime . 

Black slate . 

Gray lime . 

Slate and lime.. 

Blue slate . 

Light limestone 

Blue slate . 

Lime shell . 

Dark slate . 

Gray lime . 

Dark slate . 

Gray sand . 

Dark sand . 

Dark lime . 

Dark lime . 

Dark slate . 


to 1140 feet 
“ 1215 “ 

“ 1235 ‘* 

“ 1245 “ 

“ 1255 “ 

“ 1310 “ 

“ 1330 “ 

“ 1360 “ 

“ 1390 “ 

“ 1425 “ 

“ 1430 “ 

“ 1440 “ 

“ 1450 “ 

“ 1490 “ 

“ 1500 “ 

“ 1510 “ 

“ 1520 “ 

“ 1540 “ 

“ 1565 “ 

“ 1575 “ 

“ 1585 “ 

“ 1600 “ 
“ 1605 “ 

“ 1610 “ 
“ 1615 “ 

“ 1625 “ 

“ 1640 “ 

“ 1660 “ 
“ 1670 “ 

“ 1690 “ 

“ 1710 “ 

“ 1718 “ 

“ 1721 “ 

“ 1735 “ 

“ 1745 “ 

“ 1780 “ 

“ 1805 “ 

“ 1815 “ 

“ 1875 “ 

“ 1880 “ 
“ 1920 “ 

“ 1925 “ 

“ 1940 “ 

“ 1945 “ 

“ 1995 “ 

“ 2000 “ 
“ 2010 “ 
“ 2040 “ 



















































US 


Light sand . to 2070 foot 

Dark lime. “ 2075 “ 

Dark sand . “ 2080 “ 

Well completed Dec. 15, 1919. Dry hole, abandoned. 



Fig - . 35. Map of Grant County showing location of recorded abandoned 
wells. The northeastern part of this county is oil territory and the 
southeastern part is gas territory. 


GRANT COUNTY 

Grant County is covered with glacial drift which varies in thickness 
from 100 to 425 feet. Except for exposures along the Mississinewa River 
and Pike Creek the bed rock is completely concealed. The drift rests on 
the Silurian surface which has been greatly eroded. 

Centre Township. The city of Marion in this Township was one of the 
first to prospect for oil and gas. The first well reached the Trenton at a 
depth of 865 feet, or 60 feet below sea level and produced 350,000 cubic 
















































































110 


feet of gas daily, but after being deepened produced two million cubic 
feet daily. The second well reached the Trenton at 880 feet or 83 feet 
below sea level. At the top of the sand it produced 350,000 cubic feet, 
35 feet deeper it produced five million cubic feet daily. 

The following table gives the records of some of the wells drilled at 
Marion: 


No. of 

Well. Altitude. 

1 840 

2 797 

3 820 

4 802 

5 830 

6 

7 701 

8 
9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

Soldiers’ Home 
2 


Record of Marion Wells 


Depth of 

Relation to 

Trenton. 

Sea Level. 

900 

60 feet below 

880 

83 “ 

tt 

878 

58 “ 

tt 

880 

78 “ 

tt 

1000 

70 “ 

it 

908 



904 




Thickness Production 
of Drift. in Cu. Ft. 

2,000,000 
5,000,000 
3,500,000 
2,500,000 
4,000,000 
32 350,000 

3,000,000 
3,000,000 
1,500,000 

. oil and gas 

7,425,000 

.Oil and 350,000 

5,642,000 

20 Salt water 


Record of Well No. 6 


Drift . 32 feet. 

Limestone . 250 “ 

Niagara shale . 40 “ 

Hudson River . 336 “ 

Utica shale . 250 “ 


Total depth . 908 feet. 

Wells abandoned in 1911 are located as follows: Section 1, 1 well; 
Section 2, 12 wells; Section 3, 8 wells; Section 5, 1 well; Section 15, 1 
well; Section 16, 4 wells; Section 19, 1 well; Section 22, 1 well. 


Mill Township. A well drilled at Jonesboro produced 5,567,000 cubic 
feet of gas. It was called the “Cyclone” on account of its pressure. A 
record of the well is given by Phinney as follows: 


Drift. 162 feet 

Limestone . 148 “ 

Bluish green shale . 225 “ 

Gray shale . 180 “ 

Brown shale . 197 “ 

Trenton . 23 

Total . 935 “ 

Altitude at well about . 834 “ 























































120 




The following wells have been abandoned: Section 6, 2 wells, 1911; 
Section 8, 1 well, 1911; Section 29, 1 well in 1912; Section 30, 3 wells, 
1912; Section 32, 1 well, 1912; Section 33, 2 wells, 1912. 

Oil has been obtained from nearly all of the section in this Township 
and gas from many. 

Fairmount Township. The first well drilled at Fairmount produced 
11,500,000 cubic feet of gas per day. A second well produced 5,000,000 
cubic feet per day. 

Record of Fairmount Well No. 1 (Phinney) 


Drift . 35 feet. 

Limestone . 290 “ 

Shale . 609 “ 

Trenton limestone . 31 “ 

Total depth . 965 “ 

Altitude of well. 893 “ 


A well drilled in Section 25, has a record as follows: (Blatchley) 


Drive pipe . 

Casing . 

Trenton limestone 

Oil sand . 

2nd oil sand . 

Total depth . 

Initial production 


190 feet. 

370 “ 

950 “ 

975 “ 

1030 “ 

1050 “ 

50 barrels. 


Well in Section 2 


Drive pipe . 170 feet. 

Casing . 380 “ 

Top of Trenton . 960 “ 

Oil sand . 990 “ 

Second oil sand .1025 “ 

Total depth .1040 “ 


Wells have been abandoned in this Township as follows: Section 5, 1 
well in 1912; Section 13, 1 well, 1912; Section 14, 1 well, 1912; Section 18, 
1 well, 1911; Section 20, 1 well, 1911; Section 25, 1 well, 1911. 


Jefferson Township. The first well drilled at Upland reached the Tren¬ 
ton at 1,010 feet. The oil sand was 10 feet thick and the total depth of the 
well 1,040 feet. The drift was 185 feet thick. Sixteen wells were drilled 
in this township in 1906, 13 were light producers. Forty wells were 
abandoned the same year. Below is a record of four wells in this 
Township, all of which produce gas, and the first one oil. 

S. E. % of N. W. % of 



Sec. 28. 

Sec. 19. 

Sec. 19. 

Sec. 17. 

Drive pipe. 

. 100 

187 

162 

100 

Casing . 

. 420 

375 

375 

365 

Top of Trenton. 

. 920 

933 

925 

886 

Total depth. 

1020 

1035 

953 

911 


























121 


Well No. 2. Davis Farm, Jefferson Township, Grant County, Indiana 


Clay, gravel and quicksand . 107 feet. 

Limestone . 247 “ 

Slate . 577 “ 

Trenton rock at. 931 “ 

In Trenton . 102 “ 

Total depth .1033 “ 


Well No. 14. Mary Anderson Farm. Jefferson Township, Grant County, 


Indiana. 

Clay, gravel and quicksand. 112 feet. 

Limestone . 268 “ 

Slate . 563 “ 

Trenton rock at. 943 “ 

In Trenton . 107 “ 

Total depth .1050 “ 

Well No 1. Highline Farm. Jefferson Township, Grant County, Indiana 

Clay, gravel and quicksand. 129 feet. 

Limestone . 227 “ 

Slate . 580 “ 

Trenton rock at. 938 “ 6 " 

In Trenton . 102 “ 

Total depth .1041 “ 


Well No. 2. A. D. Mittank Farm. Jefferson Township, Grant County. 


Clay, gravel and quicksand. 116 feet. 

Limestone . 249 “ 

Slate . 549 “ 

Trenton rock at. 916 “ 

In Trenton . 100 “ 

Total depth .1016 “ 

Well No. 3. A. D. Mittank Farm. 

Clay, gravel and quicksand. 102 feet. 

Limestone . 256 

Slate . 558 “ 

Trenton rock at. 916 

In Trenton . 107 

Total depth .1023 


Every section in this Township has produced either oil or gas or both. 
The following wells have been abandoned: Section 2, 2 wells; Section 
3, 2 wells; Section 4, 4 wells; Section 5, 2 wells; Section 6 , 1 well; Section 
7, 9 wells; Section 10, 1 well; Section 15, 1 well; Section 16, 4 wells; 
Section 17, 2 wells; Section 19, 1 well; Section 20, 8 wells; Section 21, 9 
wells; Section 27, 2 wells; Section 28, 7 wells; Section 29, 1 well; Section 
31, 1 well' Section 33, 1 well; Section 36, 2 wells. 


































122 


Monroe Township. The records of two wells are given below: 



Sec. 12 

Sec. 36 

Drive pipe . 

. 425 feet 

227 feet. 

Casing . 

.. 430 “ 

403 “ 

Top of Trenton. 

. 990 “ 

995 “ 

Gas sand . 

H 

1030 “ 

Water . 

a 

1049 “ 

Total depth . 

. 1050 “ 

1077 “ 


More than one-half of the sections in this Township have produced oil 
or gas or both. 

Abandoned wells: Section 1, 8 wells; Section 2, 8 wells; Section 3, 2 
wells; Section 4, 5 wells; Section 5, 2 wells; Section 7, 6 wells; Section 
8, 1 well; Section 9, 3 wells; Section 10, 1 well; Section 11, 14 wells; 
Section 12, 6 wells; Section 13, 2 wells; Section 14, 8 wells; Section 15, 
1 well; Section 16, 1 well; Section 17, 1 well; Section 18, 10 wells; 
Section 19, 2 wells; Section 21, 2 wells; Section 22, 6 wells; Section 23, 
3 wells; Section 25, 5 wells; Section 26, 14 wells; Section 27, 6 wells; 
Section 28, 4 wells; Section 29, 2 wells; Section 34, 1 well; Section 35, 
6 wells; Section 36, 6 wells. 

Pleasant Township. Light producing wells have been found in this 
township. Two wells were drilled near Jalapa in 1901 and 1903, both light 
producers. Wells abandoned are located as follows: Section 2, 1 well; 
Section 6, 1 well; Section 18, 1 well; Section 28, 1 well; Section 31, 2 
wells; Section 33, 1 well. 

Richland Township. Salt water was obtained in a well drilled about 
two miles from the north boundary. Wells were abandoned in Section 4, 
1 well; Section 34, 1 well; Section 36, 1 well. 

Sims Township. A strong gas supply was obtained at Swayzee. Two 
wells were put down in Section 12, both produced a small supply of oil. 
Wells abandoned are as follows: Section 2, 1 well, 1913; Section 9, 1 
well, 1913; Section 10, 2 wells, 1911; Section 25, 1 well, 1912. 

Van Buren Township. The first well drilled contained both oil and gas. 
A record of the well drilled at Van Buren is given below. 

Log of Van Buren Well No. 1 


Drift . 91 feet. 

Limestone . 300 “ 

Shale . 559 “ 

Trenton limestone . 23 “ 


Total depth . 973 “ 

Altitude of well. 843 “ 

















The following are records of other wells drilled in this township: 



Sec. 2 

Sec. 7 

Sec. 17 

Drive pipe. 

. 174 

156 

412 

Casing. 


439 

441 

Top of Trenton. 

. 992 

1003 

972 

Gas . 

.1007 

1012 

987 

Oil (first) . 

.1020 

1018 

1005 

Oil (best) . 


1038 


Total depth . 

.1046 

1085 

1032 

Initial production _ 

. 20 bbl. 

65 bbl. 

30 bbl 


Every quarter section of land in this Township has been a producer of 

% 

oil or gas or both. The following wells have been plugged: Section 1, 

15 wells; Section 2, 23 wells; Section 3, 11 wells; Section 4, 7 wells; 
Section 5, 19 wells; Section 6, 33 wells; Section 7, 22 wells; Section 8, 21 
wells; Section 9, 11 wells; Section 10, 11 wells; Section 11, 11 wells; 
Section 13, 1 well; Section 14, 19 wells; Section 15, 56 wells; Section 16, 
6 wells; Section 17, 10 wells; Section 18, 11 wells; Section 19, 11 wells; 
Section 20, 1 well; Section 21, 12 wells; Section 22, 19 wells; Section 27, 

16 wells; Section 28, 10 wells; Section 29, 8 wells; Section 32, 20 wells; 
Section 33, 29 wells; Section 34, 38 wells; Section 35, 1 well; Section 
36, 2 wells. 


Washington Township. A few sections in the northwest corner of the 
Township are the only ones that have not been productive. Wells No. 1 
on the N. M. Bradford, and No. 1 on the Ira Bradford farm, in the north 
half of the southeast X A of 16, and No. 11 on the J. T. Bradford in the 
S. W. *,4 of 16, had the following records: 

No. 1 No. 2 No. 11 

N. M. B. I. B. J. T. B. 

feet. feet. feet. 

Drive pipe . 285 256 341 

Casing . 509 409 442 

Top of Trenton. 995 996 994 

Gas .1020 1020 1020 

Best oil .1040 1030 1055 

Total depth .1071 1071 1094 

Initial production, bbls... 25 60 15 

Section 2, E. J. Hunt farm, S. W. 1 4. An average well on the lease 


shows the following record: 

Drive pipe . 300 feet. 

Casing . 500 

Top of Trenton. 980 

Total depth .1055 


On Section 3, one mile west of the above farm, a record of bore No. 1 
was as follows (the well was a fair producei). 

Drive pipe . 109 feet. 

Casing .'. ^04 

Top of Trenton.1004 

Gas struck at. 1014 

























124 


First oil pay.... 

Salt water . 

Second oil pay 
Total depth .... 


1019-1040 feet 
1040-1045 “ 

1055-1070 “ 

.1070 “ 


A well in the N. E. 14 of Section 11 had the following record: 


Drive pipe . 

Casing . 

Top of Trenton. 

First pay . 

Salt water . 

Total depth . 

The above well started at 60 barrels. 


250 feet 
455 “ 

1014 “ 

1026 “ 
1073 “ 

1077 “ 


An average record of ten wells drilled on the Cory lease, west half of 
the northwest 14, up to October 1, 1903, is as follows: 


Drive pipe . 104 feet. 

Casing .!... 460 “ 

Top of Trenton..•.1001 “ 

Total depth .1079 “ 


Most of the wells came in with an initial production of 35 to 50 barrels. 
A well on the L. W. Smith farm, Section 16, south half of the N. W. 14 


has the following record: 

Drive pipe . 220 feet. 

Casing . 470 “ 

Top of Trenton. 930 “ 

Total depth .1000 “ 

Section 28, N. E. 14. 

Drive pipe . 286 feet. 

Casing . 420 “ 

Top of Trenton. 987 “ 

Struck gas at.1000 “ 

Total depth .1074 “ 


The well yielded 2,000,000 feet of gas a day for twenty days, with no 
showing of oil. At the end of that time it was shot with 160 quarts, when 
a pocket of oil near the bottom of the bore was evidently broken into, as 
the fluid rose 20 feet above the derrick. The well made 24 barrels the 
first day and settled down into a fair producer. 


The Hawkins lease, on the N. W. 14 of Section 34 has 7 or 8 fair 
producers. The record of No. 7 being as follows: 

Drive pipe . 173 feet. 

Casing . 440 “ 

Top of Trenton. 997 “ 

First oil pay .1027 “ 

Second oil pay.......1054 “ 

Total depth .1070 “ 

Abandoned wells are located as follows: Section 2, 8 wells, 1913; 
Section 3, 3 wells, 1913; Section 9, 2 wells, 1912; Section 10, 1 well, 1916; 
Section 12, 2 wells, 1912; Section 13, 3 wells, 1912; Section 14, 4 wells, 































125 


1912; Section 15, 1 well, 1913; Section 1 ( 5 , 2 

wells, 1912; Section 22 

wells, 1913; Section 23, 5 wells, 1913; Section 28, 3 wells, 1913; 

3 wells, 1912; Section 34, 2 wells, 1912. 

Section 

Green Township. Abandoned wells 

are located as follows: 


Owner. 

Date. 

Section. 

Range. 

Wells. 

E. Pennington . 

1912 

3 

6 E 

1 

Joe Hoe . 

1913 

4 

6 E 

1 

J. J. Johnson. 


16 

6 E 

1 

G. M. Kilgore. .. 

1912 

26 

6 E 

1 

N. J. Lacure. 

1912 

34 

6 E 

1 

Clias. Lear . 

1913 

35 

6 E 

1 

Liberty Township. A list of the abandoned 

wells is 

given below: 

Owner. 

Date. 

Section. 

Range. 

Wells. 

A. W. Jay. 

1912 

1 

7E 

1 

Henry Daugherty . 

1913 

3 

7E 

1 

A. Gimmell . 

1912 

6 

7E 

1 

P. & N. Muchmore. 

1912 

8 

7E 

1 

Thos. Shady . 

1912 

12 

7E 

1 

F. A. Stewart... 

1912 

16 

7E 

1 

W. W. Elliott. 

1912 

21 

7E 

1 

John Harold . 

1912 

22 

7E 

1 

Jessie Haislev . 

1912 

24 

7E 

1 

Frank Mason & Webb Winslow 

1912 

27 

7E 

2 

Woodie Clark . 


29 

7E 

1 

Thos. Shady . 


33 

7E 

1 

Wm. Harvey . 


34 

7E 

1 

Franklin Township. Wells were drilled and 

abandoned as follows: 

Owner. 

Date. 

Section. 

Range. 

Wells. 

H. J. Paulus. 

1912 

2 

7E 

1 

B. D. Tharp... 

1911 

11 

7E 

1 

Mat Sheffield . 

1911 

19 

7E 

1 


5 


*)*} 
«) O, 


GREENE COUNTY 

The mantle of glacial drift covering this County is light, varying from 
five to fifty feet in thickness except in the White River valley where it 
may exceed one hundred feet. The rock strata underlying the drift 
belongs to the Mississippian and the Pennsylvanian periods. In the 
eastern part of the county the structure may be determined by locating 
elevations on the surface of some of the Chester limestones which may be 
used as datum planes for drawing structural contours. In the western 
part of the County where the coal measures outcrop the coal beds may be 
used, with proper methods of discrimination, for a like purpose. The 
surface of the Trenton limestone probably lies from 2,000 to 2,500 feet 
below the surface in this County. The Devonian, which may be oil bearing 
where the structure is favorable, may be reached at depths ranging from 
1,500 to 1,800 feet. 























126 


Jefferson Township. A well drilled at Worthington reached water in 
the Niagara limestone at 1,430 feet. The well was completed at 1,445 feet. 


Taylor Township. 

record: 


A well drilled in Taylor Township has the following 

Well No. 1 on Section 31 


Surface to 15 feet—Soil, drift and mud. 


15 to 20 feet.—Quick sand . 5 feet. 

20 “ 40 “ —Soft mud. 20 “ 

40 “ 45 “ —Limeshell .5 “ 

45 “ 72 “ —Shale and water.27 “ 

72 “ 80 “ —Limeshell . 8 “ 

80 “ 100 “ —Shale and water. 20 “ 

100 “ 120 “ —Lime . 20 “ 

120 “ 125 “ —Broken shale . 5 “ 

125 “ 250 “ —Limestone full of water. 

250 “ 300 “ —Soft black mud. 

300 “ 310 “ —Limeshell . 10 “ 

310 “ 610 “ —Hard limestone .300 “ 

610 “ 615 “ —Soft lime . 5 “ 


At 610 feet lime got soft and brown, with a smell 
of gas and you could just notice a rainbow of a 
color of oil. 


615 

to 

710 

feet.—Brown limestone 

710 

a 

800 

“ —Brown lime full 

800 

a 

1250 

“ —Black shale. 

1250 

i < 

1285 

“ —Lime shell. 

1285 

a 

1290 

“ —Very hard lime. 

1290 

i < 

1400 

“ —Dark shale. 

1400 

a 

1487 

“ —Brown shale. 

1487 

a 

1642 

“ —Niagara rock. 

Total 

depth 

of well.. 


Washington Township. A small gas and oil field was located at Lyons. 
The production was never very large. Wells were abandoned in Section 
4, Section 6, Section 9, Section 11, Section 15, and Section 16. The fol¬ 
lowing is a record of the Kaufman well: 


Drift . 26 feet. 

Sandy lime . 60 “ 

Coal . 4 “ 

Sand and water . 86 “ 

Slate . 20 “ 

White lime . 30 “ 

Red rock . 35 “ 

Sandy slate . 10 “ 

Dark slate . 55 “ 

Bedford lime . 8 “ 

Dark shaley lime . 342 “ 

Shell and lime . 100 ** 




































127 


Brown slate and water . 10 feet 

Black lime . 40 “ 

Hard white lime . 50 “ 

Slate and shale . 60 “ 

White lime . 40 “ 

Black slate . 250 “ 

Brown sand . 50 “ 

White slate . 238 “ 

Trenton rock . 221 “ 


Still in Trenton when finished at 1,959. Big water at 1,950. Filled up 
to 1900. This well probably finished in the Niagara rather than the 
Trenton. Casing record, 10 inch, 209 feet; 8 inch, 620 feet; 6% inch, 
1,188 feet. 

Stafford Township. Two wells were drilled in this Township, one on 
the property of J. L. Morgan and in Glenns Valley. 


HAMILTON COUNTY 

The bed rock formations of this County belong to the Silurian and 
Devonian periods of geologic time. These formations are largely con¬ 
cealed by glacial drift varying in thickness from 50 to 300 feet. The 
surface of the Trenton lies from 800 to 1,200 feet below the surface and 
for the greater part of the County is above sea level. The dip of the 
strata is southwest. 

Noblesville Township. A well drilled at Noblesville gave the following 
log: 


Drift . 140 feet. 

Limestone . 286 “ 

Shale . 410 “ 

Trenton limestone . 7 “ 


Total . 843 feet. 

Altitude of well . 750 “ 


Many gas wells are located in this Township. Abandoned wells arc 
located in Section 11, 1 well; Section 17, 1 well; Section 18, 2 wells. 


Delaware Township. Gas wells were located at New Britton and 
Fishers. 


Fall Creek Township. Oil wells were located in Sections 1. 2, 36 and 
others. 


Logs of Wells 

in Section 

2' 



No. 1. 

No. 2. 

No. 3 

Drive pipe . 

. 56 

54 

54 

Casing . 

. 380 

384 

381 

Top of Trenton . 

. 886 

889 

885 

Best oil at . 

. 914 

918 

914 

Total depth ... . 

. 926 

955 

935 

Initial output, barrels . 

. 65 

2 

50 
























Jackson Township. Oil wells were located in Sections 5, 6, 31, 33, 36 
and others. Three abandoned wells are located in 28 and 1 in 23. Logs of 
some of tlie wells are as follows: 


Drive pipe . 

Sec. 6. 

. 203 

Sec. 5. 

240 

Sec. 36. 

70 

Casing . 

. 525 

545 


Top of Trenton . 

.1003 

1010 

916 

Total depth .. 

.1063 

1064 

927 

The record of a well drilled at Cicero 

Drift . 

is given below: 

.. 161 

feet. 

Niagara limestone and shale. 

. 300 

u 

Hudson River and Utica. 


. 490 

a 

Trenton limestone . 


. 32 

tc 

Phinney gives the following record of 

a well 

drilled at Arcadia 

Drift . 


. 130 

feet. 


Limestone . 120 “ 

Blue limestone . 130 “ 

Shale . 581 “ 

Trenton limestone . 13 “ 


Total depth . 974 “ 

Altitude of well. 868 “ 

Adams Township. At Sheridan gas was obtained at 1,076 feet and the 
top of the Trenton at 1.069 feet. 

Washington Township. At Westfield the top of the Trenton was 
reached at 1,040 feet and salt water at 1,080 feet. Blatchley gives the 
records of five wells in this Township, the first three are in the S. W. % 
of Section 13, and the last two in the east half of Section 20. 



No. 1 

No. 2 

No. 3 


No. 4 

No. 5 

Drive pipe . 

. 305 

231 

234 


160 

161 

Casing . 

. 560 

500 

500 


515 

515 

Top of Trenton. 

.1024 

1020 

1022 


1005 

1000 

Total depth . 

.1042 

1037 

1050 


1032 

1019 

An abandoned well 

is located 

in Section 26, 

on the Allan Stalker 

property. 







Clay Township. At 

Carmel gas 

was obtained. 




Wayne Township. 

Abandoned 

wells 

are located 

in this 

territory as 

follows: One well each in Sections 3, 

5, 9, 10, 

17 

and 20 

and two in 


Section 9. 

White River Township. Abandoned wells are located as follows: One 
each in Sections 3, 9, 10, 27 and 34. 
























and Blue River. 


HANCOCK COUNTY 

This county is covered with glacial drift varying in thickness from 50 
to 250 feet. The durolith formations belong to the Silurian and the 
Devonian periods. In the greater part of the county the surface of the 
Trenton is above sea level in the southwest corner of the County it lies 
below sea level. 


Centre Township. Productive gas wells were drilled at Greenfield, 
record of well No. 1 as given by Phinney is below: 

Drift .-. 215 feet - 

Corniferous limestone . 65 

Shale (upper Niagara). 17 

Limestone (Niagara) . 6S 

Shale . 1^5 


( 129 ) 


777/Vj 

























































































































Black shale . 45 feet 

Bluish green shale. 138 “ 

Limestone . 2 “ 

Brown shale . 300 “ 

Trenton limestone . 144 “ 


Total depth . 9994 “ 

Altitude of well. 902 “ 


Wells drilled on the property of Joe Docman and Max Franks were 
abandoned in 1912 and one on the property of Joe Branny in Section 20 
in 1913. 

Sugar Creek Township. The record of a well drilled at Palestine is ns 


follows: 

Drift . 285 feet. 

Limestone ..*.,. 122 “ 

Shale . 593 " 

Trenton limestone . 60 “ 


Total-. 1060 “ 

Altitude of well. 839 “ 

Salt water at.1003 “ 


Vernon Township. Gas was obtained in wells at Fortville and McCords- 
ville, Vernon Township. The following wells were abandoned, one each on 


the property of Wm. Fort and J. Lindamood and one on 
Nelson Fort in Section 16, all in 1913. 

the property 

Greene Township. Wells abandoned in this 

township 

are located: 

Owner. 

Section. 

Date. 

Wells. 

Sarah Martin . 

.19 

1912 

1 

Mark O’Mailey . 

. 20 

1913 

1 

S. E. Stubbs. 

. 27 

1916 

1 

David Jones . 

. 34 

1916 

1 

Ora Peacock . 

. 36 

1919 

1 

Brown Township. Abandoned 

wells are located as follows: 

Owner. 

Section. 

Date. 

Wells. 

Harry Davies . 

. 7 

1916 

1 

H. Cook . 

. 8 

1919 

1 

J. W. Hedrick. 

. 14 

1911 

1 

Madison Brooks . 

. 19 

1913 

1 

Frank Burgis . 

. 21 

1912 

1 

Hayes . 

. 25 

1913 

1 

Joe Van Matre. 

. 27 

1913 

1 

Car wood .. 

.... 33 

1913 

1 

W. Keck ... 

. 33 

1913 

1 

Joe Van Matre. 

. 33 

1913 

1 

































Jackson Township: Gas was obtained at Charlottsville in Section 35 
and in many other sections. The following wells have been abandoned: 
Section 6, 1 well; Section 7, 1 well; Section 8, 1 well; Section 9, 2 wells; 
Section 10, 4 wells; Section 13, 2 wells; Section 15, 1 well; Section 16, 2 
wells; Section 17, 2 wells; Section 21. 1 well; Section 23, 2 wells; Section 
27, 1 well; Section 35, 3 wells. 

Blue River Township. The following wells have been abandoned in this 
Township: One each in Sections 9, 10, 17 and 19. 


HARRISON COUNTY 


Harrison County lies wholly within the unglaciated area of the state. 
The greater part of its surface is occupied by the Mitchell peneplain 
through the surface of which the major streams have cut to the underlying 
formations. The strata represented by outcrops in the County belong to 
the following divisions: 


Mississippian. 


^Recent-—Residual clays and alluvium. 

Quaternary.| Pleistocene—Possible residuals. 

"Chester, sandstones limestone and shale. 
Mitchell limestone. 

Salem limestone. 

Harrodsburg limestone. 

Knobstone, shales and sandstones. 

In that portion of the county occupied by the Mitchell limestone the 
determination of structural conditions will be difficult because of the 
absence of definite and persistent horizons in the Mitchell. Where 
numerous outcrops of the Knobstone-Harrodsburg contact can be found, 
this may be used as a key horizon. If structural conditions are favor¬ 
able, oil and gas reservoirs may be found in the Trenton, Silurian and 
Devonian limestones. Gas has been obtained at Tobacco Landing from 
the Devonian. A record of one of the wells follows: 


Section of Well No. 1 


Keokuk limestone . 15 feet. 

Knobstone ..... 390 “ 


Depth to Devonian shale. 405 “ 

A good flow of gas was found in the Devonian shale. The gas pressure 
in 1911 was from 60 to 110 pounds. In 1914 it was only 50 pounds. Gas 
and oil wells range in depth from sixty to nine hundred feet. Six oil wells 
range in depth from 135 feet to 700 feet. The initial production was from 
five to thirty barrels per day. 


HENDRICKS COUNTY 

The strata underlying the glacial drift in this County belong to the 
Devonian and Mississippian periods. The New Albany shale occupies the 
subsurface in the eastern part of the County and the Knobstone in the 
western portion. The glacial drift conceals the bed rock almost 
completely and reaches a thickness of two hundred feet. 









I oo 

I • >_J 


A well was drilled at Plainfield at an altitude of 742 feet. The total 
depth was 1,386 feet and a slight flow of gas was obtained at a depth of 
350 feet. 

The surface of the Trenton in all parts of this County is below sea 
level, probably 400 to 600 feet. If oil or gas in quantity is obtained in 
this County it will probably be in terraces or spurs or small domes 
connected with the Cincinnati geanticline. The position of such struc¬ 
tures, if they exist cannot be determined by surficial observations because 
the outcrop of the strata is concealed largely by the drift. Not enough 
well records have been secured to enable one to secure sufficient data for 
subsurface work. 



Fig-. 37. Map of Henry County showing location of abandoned wells. 
The northern tier of townships is in gas territory. 


HENRY COUNTY 

The surface of the durolith of Henry County is formed by Silurian 
strata (Niagara limestone), which is covered with glacial drift varying in 
thickness from 25 to 500 feet. The surface of the Trenton lies from 500 
to 1,200 feet below the surface of the county and for a large part of the 
County is above sea level. 














































































































OQ 

»>•> 


Henry Township. Well No. 1 at New Castle has the following log: 


Drift . 333 feet. 

Hudson River Shales. 200 “ 

Utica shales . 343 “ 

Trenton limestone . 421 “ 


Total depth .1297 “ 

Trenton above sea level.. 104 “ 


The surface of the Trenton about New Castle varies in height above sea 
level from 104 to 137 feet, the average is about 125 feet. 


Prairie Township. A well drilled at Mt. Summit gave the following log: 


Drift . 230 feet. 

Limestone . 50 “ 

Shale . 736 “ 

Trenton limestone . 66 “ 


Total depth .1082 “ 

Altitude of well.1110 “ 


Two wells were drilled at Springport, the record of the second follows: 


Drift . 156 feet. 

Limestone . 90 “ 

Bluish green shale. 600 “ 

Black shale . Ill “ 

Trenton limestone . 63 “ 


Total depth .1020 “ 

Altitude of well.1004 “ 


Spiceland Township. At Spiceland a well was drilled which has the 
following log: 

Drift . 151 feet. 

Hard cherty limestone. 62 

Limestone . 67 

Shale .-. 10 “ 

Bluish green and brown shale. 710 

Trenton limestone . 62 


Total depth .1002 

Altitude of well.1023 

Wayne Township. A well drilled at Knightstown has the following log: 

Drift . 64 feet. 

Niagara limestone . 200 

Hudson River limestone and shale. 360 “ 

Utica shale . 199 

Trenton limestone . 213 


Total depth .1036 

Trenton above sea level. 113 


At this point the surface of the Trenton varies from 112 to 121 feet 
above sea level. Three wells were drilled in Knightstown recently. The 









































records of these wells are given below. No. 1 was drilled on the lot of 


Mrs. 

Walter Garrison; No. 2 on lot 

of James 

Oakerson; 

No. 3 on lot of 

L. P. 

Wenly. 

No. 1 

No. 2 

No. 3 


Drift to lime rock. 

. 57 

63 

60 feet. 


Thickness of lime rock... 

. 200 

200 

200 “ 


Thickness of slate to shale. 

. 560 

555 

560 “ 


To Trenton . 

. 817 

818 

820 “ . 


Drilled in Trenton. 

. 8 

10 

10 “ 


Total depth .... 

. 825 

828 

830 “ 


HOWARD COUNTY 

A mantle of drift covers the bed rock of this County to a depth of 40 
to 100 or more feet. Underlying the drift are the limestones of the 
Silurian period. This County was among the first to drill for gas and as 
early as 1886 brought in a well of 2,000,000 cubic feet capacity. The 
depth to the surface of the Trenton varies from 800 to 1,100 feet and the 
surface of the Trenton is from 50 to 350 feet below sea level. 

Center Township. The Township has produced much gas. The first 
well was drilled in 1886. The following is a list of 14 wells drilled in or 
near Kokomo 1 : 


No. of 
well 

Depth to 
Trenton 
feet 

Depth to 
gas 
feet 

Altitude 

feet 

Trenton 

below 

sea 

level 

Thickness 
of drift 

Capacity 
in cu. ft. 
per day 

1 

912 

922 

825 

87 


2,000.000 
1,117,000 
810,000 

1,500,000 
4,462,000 

1,555,000 
3,015,000 
1,072,000 

2,500,000 

2,800,000 

2,600,000 

3,650,000 
3,727,000 

2,330,000 

2 

913 

922 


3 

4 

905 

936 

910 

944 

830 

75 

65 

5 

895 

901 




6 

889 

893 




7 

908 

912 




8 

904 

914 




9 

900 




10 

902 




40 

11 

932 




90 

12 




13 

903 





14 

905 










Record of Well No. 4 (Wm. Moore) 


Drift . 65 feet. 

Water lime . 10 “ 

Bluish limestone . 80 “ 

White shaly limestone. 15 “ 

Bluish limestone . 65 “ 

Niagara shale (calcareous). 35 “ 

Gray limestone . 75 “ 

Hudson River shale. 255 “ 

Utica shale . 256 “ 

Trenton limestone. 22 “ 


Total depth . 958 “ 






















































At Tarkington the Trenton was reached at 965 feet and the drift has a 
thickness of 140 feet. In Section 19. 4 wells; Section 20, 8 wells and tel 
Section 24, 1 well, were abandoned from 1911 to 1913. 

Jackson Township. Gas wells were produced at Sycamore in this town¬ 
ship. Wells abandoned are located as follows: Section 7, 2 wells; Section 
12, 3 wells; Section 13, 3 wells; Section 17, 2 wells; Section 18, 1 well; 
Section 20, 1 well; Section 23, 1 well; Section 24, 5 wells; Section 26, 1 
well; Section 31, 1 well; Section 32, 1 well. 

Liberty Township. At Greentown a strong flow of gas was obtained. 
The depth to the Trenton is 936 feet, gas obtained at 965, and the drift 
was 79 feet. Wells have been abandoned as follows: Section 4, 1 well; 
Section 6, 1 well; Section 7, 1 well; Section 19, 2 wells; Section 27, 2 wells. 

Union Township. The Trenton was reached at 934 feet, gas at 959, and 
the thickness of the drift was 107 feet. Wells abandoned are located in 
Section 6, 1 well; Section 7, 1 well; Section 15, 1 well; Section 17, 1 well; 
Section 20, 2 wells; Section 21, 1 well; Section 23, 1 well; Section 29, 1 
well. 

Taylor Township. The Fairfield well reached the Trenton at 937, drift 
55 feet, McNeal well went through 32 feet of drift and reached the Tren¬ 
ton at 925 feet. Wells abandoned are located in Section 12, 2 wells; 
Section 15, 1 well; Section 18, 1 well; Section 26, 1 well; Section 30, 3 
wells. 

Howard Township. The Templin well passed through 80 feet of drift 
and reached the Trenton at 921 feet. The Weaver well passed through 
100 feet of drift and reached the Trenton at 921 feet. A well drilled on 
the Underwood place in Section 15 was abandoned in 1913. 

Harrison Township. A well located on the property of Jackson Morrow 
in Section 13 and one on the property of Mary A. Frances were abandoned 
in 1912 and 1913. 


HUNTINGTON COUNTY 

The Niagara limestone underlies the glacial drift in this County. The 
surface of the limestone has been deeply eroded and the drift varies much 
in thickness. Outcrops of the limestone occur along the banks of the 
Salamonie River. The southern part of this County has been good oil 
territory in the past and the field has been extended slightly recently. 
The County lies on the north side of the Arch and the strata dip toward 
the north. Structural conditions can be determined only by subsurface 
work. 

The following are the records of some of the wells that have been drilled 
in this County: 

Jefferson Township: Sections 7, 8, 17 and 18 were all productive 
territory in 1905. The following wells have been abandoned: Section 7, 
2 wells; Section 13, 2 wells; Section 19, 3 wells; Section 21, 6 wells; Sec- 


tion 24, 1 well; Section 28, 7 wells; Section 31, 11 wells; Section 33, 27 
wells; Section 34, 10 wells; Section 35, 13 wells; Section 36, 8 wells. 

Salamonie Township. 25 new wells were drilled in this Township in 
1905, which was formerly known as salt water territory. All were good 
producing wells. 

An average record of the bores on the S. E. 14 showed: 

Drive pipe . 58 feet. 

Casing . 385 “ 

Top of Trenton.1007 “ 

Total depth .1087 “ 

March Petroleum Co. Mill Lot Well No. 1. Located S. E. 14 of Section 20, 
Salamonie Township: 

Drive pipe . 77 feet. 

Casing . 406 “ 

Top of sand. 9784 “ 

Drilled in sand. 29 “ 

Total depth .10074 “ 

Shot with 100 quarts April 4, 1919. 

Pumped 50 barrels oil first 24 hours. 

J. L. Priddy Lease No. 9. N. W. 14 of Section 20, Salamonie Township: 

Drive pipe . 52 feet. 10" 

Casing . 428 “ 

Top of sand.1007 “ 

Drilled in sand. 30 “ 

Total depth .1037 “ 

Not shot, plugged April 11, 1919. 

Calvin Perdue Lease No. 3, S. E. 14 of Section 29: 

Drive pipe . 72 feet. 

Casing . 425 “ 

Top of sand. 960 “ 

Drilled in sand. 22 “ 

Total depth . 982 “ 

Shot with 60 quarts April 11, 1919. 

Pumped 125 barrels first 24 hours. 

Calvin Perdue Lease No. 4. S. E. 14 of Section 29, Salamonie Township: 

Drive pipe . 614 feet. 

Casing . 432 “ 

Top of sand. 975 “ 

Drilled in sand. 32 “ 

Total depth .1007 “ 

Shot with 100 quarts. Pumped first 24 
hours, 50 barrels. 

Calvin Perdue Lease No. 5. S. E. 14 of Section 29: 

Drive pipe . 89 feet. 

Casing . 432 “ 

Top of sand. 956 “ 

Drilled in sand. 254 ‘ 

Total depth . 9814 “ 

Shot 80 quarts. Pumped 70 barrels first 
24 hours. 































Calvin Perdue Lease No. 6. S. E. 14 of Section 29: 

Drive pipe . 91 feet. 

Casing . 400 “ 

Top of sand. 968 “ 

Drilled in sand. 24 “ 

Total depth . 992 “ 

Shot with 80 quarts. Pumped 55 barrels 
first 24 hours. 

Calvin Perdue Lease No. 7. S. W. 14 of Section 29: 

Drive pipe . 32 feet. 

Casing . 417 “ 

Top of sand.,. 952 “ 

Drilled in sand. 32 “ 

Total depth . 975 “ 

Shot with 80 quarts. Pumped 150 bar¬ 
rels 24 hours. 

Calvin Perdue Lease No. 8. N. E. 14 of Section 29: 

Drive pipe . 44 feet. 

Casing . 407 “ 

Top of sand. 976 “ 

Drilled in sand. 25 “ 

Total depth .1001 “ 

Shot with 120 quarts July 25, 1919. 

Pumped 180 barrels first 24 hours. 

Calvin Perdue Lease No. 9. N. E. 14 of Section 29: 

Drive pipe . 52 feet. 8 

Casing . 508 “ 

Top of sand. 975 “ 

Drilled in sand. 28 “ 

Total depth .1003 “ 

Shot with 140 quarts August 6, 1919. 

Pumped 90 barrels first 24 hours. 

Calvin Perdue Lease No. 10. S. E. 14 of Section 29: 

Drive pipe . 32 feet. 

Casing . 420 

Top of sand. 9581 

Drilled in sand. 20 

Total depth . 9781 

Shot with 60 quarts August 9, 1919. 

Calvin Perdue Lease No. 11. N. E. !i of Section 29: 

Drive pipe . 44 feet. 2 

Casing . 400 

Top of sand. 968 

Drilled in sand. 222 

Total depth . 990 

Shot with 100 quarts. Pumped 45 bar¬ 
rels first 24 hours. 
































L. S. Jones Lease No. 16. S. E. 14 of Section 20: 

Drive pipe . 161 feet. 

Casing . 412 “ 

Top of sand. 968 “ 

Drilled in sand. 25 “ 

Total depth . 993 “ 

Shot with 80 quarts May 2, 1919. 

Pumped 50 barrels first 24 hours. 

Frank Malott Lease No. 1. N. E. 14 of Section 29: 

Drive pipe . 33 feet. 

Casing . 4281 “ 

Top of sand. 965 “ 

Drilled in sand. 27 “ 4" 

Total depth . 992 “ 

Shot with 100 quarts. Pumped 100 bar¬ 
rels first 24 hours. 

Frank Malott, Lease No. 2, N. E. !4 of Section 29. 

Drive pipe . 73 feet. 

Casing . 415 “ 

Top of sand . 977 “ 

Drilled in sand . 26 “ 

Total depth .1003 “ 

Shot with 120 quarts. Pumped first 24 
hours, 90 barrels. 

Frank Malott Lease No. 3, N. W. !4 of Section 29. 

Drive pipe . 69 feet. 

Casing . 394 “ 

Top of sand . 986 “ 

Drilled in sand . 18 “ 

Total depth .1004 “ 

Pumped salt water first 24 hours. 

Calvin Perdue Lease No. 12, N. E. 14 of Section 29. 

39 feet to limestone. 

376 feet through limestone. 

572 feet of shale. 

22 feet of Trenton rock. 

Pumped 20 barrels first 24 hours. 

Calvin Perdue Lease No. 13, S. E. 14 of Section 29. 

39 feet to limestone. 

363 feet through limestone. 

566 feet of shale. 

23 feet of Trenton rock. 

Pumped 40 barrels first 24 hours. Finished Aug. 

30, 1919. 






















Calvin Perdue Lease No. 14, N. E. 14 of Section 29. 

28 feet to limestone. 

367 feet through limestone. 

573 feet of shale. 

24 y 2 feet of Trenton limestone. 

Pumped 140 barrels first 24 hours. 

Calvin Perdue Lease No. 15, N. E. 14 of Section 29. 

31 feet to limestone. 

369 feet through limestone. 

586 feet of shale. 

25 feet of Trenton limestone. 

Pumped 25 barrels first 24 hours. 

Calvin Perdue Lease Well No. 16, N. E. 14 of Section 29. 

46 feet 3 inches to limestone. 

384 feet through limestone. 

550 feet of shale. 

24 feet of Trenton. 

Pumped 110 barrels first 24 hours. 

Calvin Perdue Lease Well No. 17, S. W. !4 of Section 29. 

28 feet to limestone. 

287 feet through limestone. 

542 feet of shale. 

20 feet of Trenton. 

Pumped 35 barrels first 24 hours. Finished 
Sept. 19, 1919. 

Calvin Perdue Lease Well No. 18, N. E. 14 of Section 29. 

34 feet to limestone. 

371 feet through limestone. 

575 feet of shale. 

25 feet of Trenton. 

Water, 24 hours. 

Calvin Perdue Lease Well No. 19, S. W. 14 of Section 29. 
33 feet to limestone. 

384 feet through limestone. 

542 feet of shale. 

19 feet of Trenton. 

Pumped 15 barrels first 24 hours. Finished 
Oct. 18, 1919. 

Calvin Perdue Lease Well No. 20, N. E. 14 of Section 29 . 

78 feet to limestone. 

336 feet through limestone. 

563 feet of shale. 

20 feet of Trenton. 

First 24 hours, 25 barrels. Finished Oct. 10,1919. 


Calvin Perdue Lease Well No. 21, N. E. X A of Section 29. 
56 feet to limestone. 

357 feet through limestone. 

578 feet of shale. 

19 feet of Trenton. 

First 24 hours, 20 barrels. Finished Oct. 18, 1919. 

Frank Malott Lease Well No. 4, N. W. X A of Section 29. 

58 feet to limestone. 

422 feet through limestone. 

503 feet of shale. 

20 X A feet of Trenton. 

First 24 hours, 20 barrels. Finished Oct. 3, 1919. 


Wayne Township. 10 wells were drilled in the west half of Section 36, 
in 1904 and 1905, all of which started at about 100 barrels. Well No. 5, on 
the Hamilton lease, S. W. X A of Section 25, finished August, 1905, may, 
except in production, be taken as an average for this territory, its record 


being as follows: 

Drive pipe . 221 feet. 

Casing . 512 “ 

Top of Trenton .1001 “ 

Total depth .1064 “ 

Initial production (barrels) . 100 


Well No. 6 on the Pinkerton Lease, N. E. X A of Section 13, Jefferson 
Township had the following record: 

Drive pipe . 170 feet. 

Casing . 520 “ 

Top of Trenton . 971 “ 

Total depth .10234 “ 

Initial production . 143 barrels. 


Wells have been abandoned in this Township as follows: Section 3, 1 
well; Section 11, 1 well; Section 12, 8 wells; Section 13, 9 wells; Section 
22, 1 well; Section 23, 5 wells; Section 24, 15 wells; Section 27, 1 well; 
Section 31, 2 wells; Section 34, 10 wells; Section 35, 15 wells; Section 
36, 1 well. 


Monroe Wyley Lease No. 1, S. E. X A of Section 12. 


Drive pipe . 137 feet. 

Casing . 427 “ 

Top of sand .1001 “ 

Drilled in sand . 30 “ 

Total depth .1031 “ 


No showing of oil. July, 1919. 

Chas. H. Freck Lease No. 1, S. W. X A of Section 13. 

28 feet to limestone. 

417 feet through limestone. 

556 feet of shale. 

17 feet of Trenton. 

Finished Aug. 20, 1919. Slight showing of oil, 
but not enough to shoot. Aus. 20. 1919. 

















141 

lieo. Good Lease No. 1, N. E. % of Section 32. 

33 feet to limestone. 

357 feet through limestone. 

580 feet of shale. 

19 feet of Trenton. 

4 barrels first 24 hours. 

Geo. Good Lease No. 2, N. E. % of Section 32. 

54 feet to limestone. 

374 feet through limestone. 

570 feet of shale. 

38 feet of Trenton. 

Finished Oct. 13, 1919. No showing of oil. 
Well of Grant Myres, No. 1. 


Surface . 

. 0 

to 

42 

feet 

Gravel . 

-. 42 

a 

215 

a 

Red rock . 

... 215 

a 

235 

a 

Slate . 

. 235 

a 

259 

a 

Lime ... 

. 259 

a 

350 

a 

Slate . 

. 350 

u 

370 

a 

Lime . 

. 370 

a 

390 

a 

Slate . 

. 390 

11 

510 

a 

Shale . 

. 510 

a 

600 

a 

Brown shale . 

. 600 

a 

680 

n 

Light shale . 

. 680 

a 

750 

a 

Brown shale . 

. 750 

a 

900 

a 

Slate . 

. 900 

a 

992 

a 

Trenton rock . 

. 992 

a 

1002 

a 


Very hard, light showing of oil. Water found at 1,002 feet. Total 
depth 1,002 feet. Drilled by Blosser, Phipps and others. 

Section 17. Well No. 1. Ed Mossburg, S. W. % of S. W. X A : 8 inch 
drive pipe 52 feet; 5% inch casing, 437 feet. Top of sand (Trenton) 1,013 
feet. Salt water at 1,032 feet. Total 1,041 feet. Plugged January 29, 1919. 
Elevation of mouth 821 feet. Trenton 192 feet. 

Well No. 2. S. E. *4 of S. E. x 4 of Section 17: Drive pipe 35 feet. Top 
of Trenton 1,027 feet. Elevation 831 feet. Trenton 196 feet. 

Well No. 1, Martha A. Raugh: S. E. *4 of Section 17. 8 inch drive pipe, 
32 feet; 5% inch casing, 395 feet. Top of sand, 1,027 feet. Big dose salt 
water at 1,050 feet. No showing of oil. Drilled June, 1918. Plugged 
June, 1918. 

Section 20. S. E. *4 Old Home Well No. 1: Top of Trenton, 965. Ele¬ 
vation 816. Trenton, 149. 

No. 2, 10 rods east. Top of Trenton 979. Elevation 826. Trenton 153. 

No. 3, 500 feet north of No. 2. Top of Trenton 986 feet. Elevation 826. 
Trenton 160. 

No. 4, S. E. of No. 2 500 feet. Top of Trenton 985. Elevation 827. 
Trenton 158. 



















No. 5. 

S. E. 

of 

No. 4, 500 

feet. 

Top 

of 

Trenton 

088. 

Elevation 

820. 

Trenton 

157. 









■ J 

No. (J, 

S. E. 

of 

No. 5, 500 

feet. 

Top 

of 

Trenton 

072. 

Elevation 

810. 

Trenton 

156. 










No. 7, 

S. E. 

of 

No. 0. 500 

feet. 

Top 

of 

Trenton 

070. 

Elevation 

827. 

Trenton 

152. 










No. 8. 

north 

of 

No. 7, 500 

feet. 

1 op 

or 

Trenton 

082. 

Elevation 

828. 


Trenton 154. 

No. 9, north of tanks near No. 1, not drilled. Elevation 827. 

Well No. 14. L. S. Jones, south half of N. E. X A, Section 20: 8 inch 

drive pipe, 58 feet; 5% inch casing, 412 feet. Top of sand 990 feet. Total 

depth, 1,015 feet. Drilled 25 feet in sand. Shot 80 quarts. First 24 
hours, 30 barrels. Drilled February 21, 1919. 

Well No. 7. J. L. Priddy. S. E. corner of N. W. X A, Section 20. 8 inch 

drive pipe 28 feet; 5% inch casing, 412 feet. Top of sand 988 feet. Total 
depth, 1,007 feet. In sand 19 x / 2 feet. Shot 100 quarts. Production first 24 
hours, 24 barrels. Drilled January, 1919. 

Well No. 8. J. L. Priddy. S. E. corner of N. W. X A of Section 20. 8 inch 

drive pipe, 64 feet; 5% inch casing, 400 feet. Top of sand 990 feet. Total 

depth 1,015 feet. Drilled 25 feet in sand. Shot 80 quarts. First 24 hours, 

30 barrels. Drilled February 21, 1919. 

Well No. 15, L. S. Jones, S. x / 2 of N. E. 14 of Section 20. 8 inch drive 

pipe, 72 feet; 5% inch casing, 400 feet. Top of sand 983 feet. Total 
depth 1,003 feet. 20 feet in sand. Drilled February, 1919. Production 
first 23 hours, 40 barrels. Elevation of mouth 837 feet. 

Well No. 3. J. L. Priddy, S. y 2 of N. W. *4, 8 inch drive pipe, 52 
feet; 5% inch casing, 424 feet. Top of sand 1,007 feet. First pay 10 feet. 
Total depth, 1.029 feet. Drilled September, 1918. 

Well No. 8. L. S. Jones. S. x / 2 of N. E. X A of Section 20. 8 inch drive 

pipe, 62 feet; 5% inch casing, 425 feet. Sand at 1,007 feet. Total depth, 
1,027 feet. Drilled August, 1918. Production 24 hours, 20 barrels. 

Section 20. Well No. 10. L. S. Jones, S. y 2 of N. E. X A of section 20; 
8 inch drive pipe 75 feet 10 inches—5 5/8 casing 415 feet. Top of sand 
1006 feet. Bottom of sand 1027 feet. Drilled Oct. 3, 1918. Production 
first 24 hours 22 barrels. 

Well No. 4. J. L. Priddy, S. x / 2 of N. W. X A ; 8 inch drive pipe 62 feet, 
5 5/8 casing 425 feet. Top of sand 987 feet. Total depth 1017 feet. 
Showing of oil 7 feet in sand. Second pay 22 feet in. Drilled October, 
1918. Produced 45 barrels first 24 hours. 

Well No. 11. L. S. Jones, N. E . X A; 8 inch drive pipe 72 feet, 5% casing 
400 feet. Top of sand 997 feet. Total depth 1034 feet. In sand 27 feet. 
Shot Oct. 21, 1918. 

Well No. 12. L. S. Jones, N. E. X A ; 8 inch drive pipe 71 feet, 5% casing 
425 feet. Top of sand 1007 feet. Total depth 1029 feet. In sand 22 feet. 
Production first 24 hours 12 barrels. 


143 

Well No. 18. L. S. Jones, N. E. 14 of section 20; 8 inch drive pipe 58 
feet, 5% casing 415 feet. Top of sand 995 feet, 22 feet in sand. Drilled 
Nov. 30, 1918. 

Well No. 5. J. L. Priddy, S. y 2 of N. E. 14; 8 inch drive pipe 91 feet, 
5% casing 405 feet. Top of sand 986 feet. Pay 14 feet in sand. Depth 
1017 feet. Drilled 31 feet in sand. Shot 80 quarts. Production first 24 
hours 60 barrels. 

Well No. 6. J. L. Priddy, S. y 2 of N. E. 14; 8 inch drive pipe, 117 feet 
6 inches—5% casing 401 feet. Top of sand 982 feet. Total depth 1007 
feet. Drilled 25 feet in sand. 

Well No. 6. L. S. Jones, S. W. 14 section 20; 8 inch drive pipe 56 feet, 

5% casing 425 feet. Top of sand 991 feet. Total depth 1018 feet. In 

sand 27 feet. Showing of oil 10 feet in. Pay at 24 feet in. Shot July 
17, 1918. 

Well No. 1. J. L. Priddy, N. y 2 of N. W. 14. Drive pipe 68 feet, 5% 
casing 418 feet. Top of sand 989 feet. Bottom 1022 feet. First pay 10 

feet in. Second pay 28 feet in sand. Shot July 22, 1918. Production 

first 24 hours 80 barrels. 

Well No. 7. L. S. Jones, S. E. 14. Drilled in Aug. 9, 1918. Top of 
sand 994 feet. Drilled 27 feet in sand. Total depth 1021 feet; 8 inch 
drive pipe 57 feet, 5% casing 425 feet. Production first 24 hours 20 barrels. 

Well No. 2. J. L. Priddy, S. x / 2 of N. W. 14; 8 inch drive pipe 70 feet, 
5% casing 425 feet. Top of sand 991 feet. Total depth 1024 feet, first 
pay 8 feet in. All pay. Shot Aug. 23, 1918. 100 quarts. Production 

first 24 hours 145 barrels. 

Well No. !>. L. S. Jones, S. E. 14 ; 8 inch drive pipe 70 feet 3 inches—5% 
casing 423 feet. Top of sand 991 feet. Total depth 1019 feet. Pay at 
19 feet. In sand 28 feet. Completed Sept. 6, 1918. Production first 24 
hours 50 barrels. 

Well No. 1. L. S. Jones, N. E. !4 section 20; 8 inch drive pipe 25 feet 
5 inches, 6!4 casing 404 feet 1 inch. Top of sand 987 feet. First pay at 
991 feet. Total depth 1005 feet. 

Well No. 2. L. S. Jones, S. E. 14; 8 inch drive pipe 29 feet, 614 casing- 

402 feet. Top of sand 978 feet. Pay sand 14 feet. Total depth 1006 feet. 

Elevation of mouth 831 feet. 

Well No. 3.- L. S. Jones, S. E. !4; 8 inch drive pipe 47 feet—5% casing 
415 feet. Top of sand 990 feet. First pay 4 feet in sand. Total depth 
1016 feet. Elevation of mouth 841 feet. 

Well No. 4. L. S. Jones, S. E. 14; 8 inch drive pipe 58 feet—5% casing 
415 feet. Top of sand 990 feet. First pay 2 feet in. Total depth 1010 feet. 

Well No. 5. L. S. Jones, S. E. 14 ; 8 inch drive pipe 47 feet, 5% casing 

414 feet. Top of sand 988 feet. First pay at 12 feet in sand. Show of oil 
at 16 feet. Salt water at 18 feet. Total depth 1031 feet. Elevation 831 
feet. Drilled 41 feet in sand. Production salt water. Plugged June 
17, 1918. 


144 


Section 21. Well No. 1. Eliza P. Thompson, N. E. corner of S. W. M) 

8 inch drive pipe 67 feet., 5% casing 425 feet. Top of sand 1007 feet, 28 

feet in sand. No showing of oil. Plugged November, 1918. 

Section 27. Well No. 1. Paper Holmes, N. E. corner of the S. W. X A\ 

8 inch drive pipe 87 feet, 5% casing 420 feet. Top of sand 1023 feet. 
Bottom of sand 1067 feet. Show of oil 26 feet in sand, not shot. Pro- 
duction all salt water. Plugged June 21, 1918. 

Section 28. Well No. 1. Louisa Beard, S. E. 8 inch drive pipe 32 

feet, 5% casing 410 feet. Top of sand 1001 feet. First pay 10 feet in. 

Total depth 1021 feet. 

Well No. 1. A. J. Gephart, S. E. corner N. E. X A; 8 inch drive pipe 70 
feet, 5% casing 425 feet. Top of sand 1007 feet. Total depth 1028 feet. 
In sand 21 feet. Production first 24 hours 1 barrel. 

Section 29. Well No. 1. Catherine Beard, W. V 2 S. W. *4; 8 inch drive 
pipe 28 feet 4 inches, 644 casing 412 feet 10 inches. Top of sand 999 feet. 
Total depth 1038 feet. Pay all way along, water at 1038 feet. 

Section 29. Well No. 1. Calvin Perdue, N. y 2 of S. E. X A ; 8 inch drive 
pipe 22 feet, 5% casing 405 feet. Top of sand 968 feet. In sand 25 feet. 
Total depth 993 feet. Drilled January, 1919. Production first 24 hours 
15 barrels. 

Well No. 2. Calvin Perdue, N. E. corner S. E. X A; 8 inch drive pipe 23 
feet, 5% casing 404 feet. Top of sand 995 feet. In sand 32 feet. Total 
depth 1027 feet. No showing of oil. Drilled March, 1919. Elevation of 
mouth above sea level 836 feet. 

Wells abandoned in this township are as follows: Section 3, 1 well; 
section 4, 1 well; section 12, 1 well; section 20, 1 well; section 24, 2 wells; 
section 25, 5 wells; section 26, 2 wells; section 29, 1 well; section 31, 
13 wells; section 34, 9 wells; section 35, 4 wells; section 36, 19 wells. 


JACKSON COUNTY 

The bed rock in the eastern part of Jackson County belongs to the 
New Albany shale division of the Devonian; the remainder of the county 
is occupied by the Knobstone division of the Mississippian. The north¬ 
west portion lies within the unglaciated region and the remainder of 
the county is covered with drift varying in thickness from a few feet 
to more than one hundred feet. In the region not covered with glacial 
drift the study of structural conditions is difficult because of the absence 
of persistent layers of rock in the Knobstone. In the region west of 
Brownstown there is a layer of limestone, a ledge in the Knobstone, 
and an accompanying bed of sandstone, which may be used for a datum 
plane for the registering of the structure. Using this limestone and the 
sandstone, Mr. O. H. Hughes located a small terrace or shoulder which 
is represented on the accompanying map. It is possible that under the 
proper structures oil or gas may be found in the Devonian or in the 
Trenton in this county. The Trenton lies below the surface in the 
county at a depth of from 1200 to 1500 feet. 


3Qit 


1 15 



Fig. 38. Outline of a structure in Jackson County, Owen Township. Constructed 
from data secured by O. H. Hughes. Probably not a definite anticline 
but a shoulder. Key formation, a lens of limestone in the Knobstone. 
































































The following is the record of a well drilled at Brownstown: 


Section of Well No. 1. 


Drift . 43 feet. 

Knobstone shale . 275 “ 

Devonian shale. 147 “ 

Corniferous and Niagara limestone. 225 “ 

Hudson River and Utica. 658 “ 

Trenton limestone . 100 “ 


Total depth .1448 “ 


Yielded no gas but at a depth of 1371 
feet a slight flow of oil was obtained. 

The following is the record of a well drilled at Seymour: 

Section of Well No. 1. 


Drift .. 75 feet. 

Sub-carboniferous sandstone . 15 “ 

Devonian sandstone . 115 “ 

Corniferous limestone . 20 “ 

Niagara limestone . 190 “ 

Hudson River limestone and shale. 520 “ 

Utica shale . 165 “ 

Trenton limestone . 94 “ 


Total depth .1194 “ 


JASPER COUNTY 

The northwestern extension of the Cincinnati Arch passes through this 
county and the strata in the southern part of the county dip in the 
opposite direction to those of the northern portion of the county. Dif¬ 
ferential movements in the arch have produced structures favorable to 
the accumulation of oil and gas. These structures occur for the most 
part on the north side of the arch. Since the bed rock is covered with 
a mantle of glacial drift ranging in thickness from five to more than one 
hundred feet, these structures cannot be located by surface examinations. 
For this reason prospecting operations have been confined to the drill. 
Such prospecting has not been so expensive in this county on account 
of the oil sand being found at shallow depths. The geological formations 
underlying the drift belong to the Silurian, Devonian, Mississippian, and 
the Pennsylvanian periods. Several small oil pools occur in this county, 
the oil being drawn from the Devonian strata at shallow depths. The 
map shows the location of these oil fields. Many of the wells indicated 
as producing wells have been abandoned since the map was prepared 
or prior to it. 





















Fig’. 39. Map showing location of oil wells in the Jasper County field 
near Gifford. 


The following is the section of a well drilled at Remington 2 : 

Section of Well No. 1. 


Drift . 5 feet. 

Devonian shale . 85 “ 

Corniferous limestone . 50 “ 

Niagara limestone . 260 “ 

Hudson River and Utica. 570 “ 

Trenton limestone . 295 “ 


Total depth ...1265 “ 

Yielded no gas. 




























US 



Fig-. 40. Map of Jay County showing location of abandoned wells. Oil territory in the 
northern tier of townships. Gas in central part and in western part 

of Knox Township. See large map. 
























































































149 


JAY COUNTY 

The Silurian forms the bed rock in this county and outcrops along (he 
Wabasli River near the north line and on the Salamonie near Portland. 
The bed rock is largely concealed by the glacial drift which has a thick¬ 
ness of 25 to 125 feet. The general geologic conditions as represented 
in a well drilled at Portland are given below: 

Wayne Township. 

Section of Portland Well No. 1. 


Drift . 58 feet. 

Niagara limestone . 192 “ 

Shales . 740 “ 

Trenton limestone . 500 “ 

St. Peter. 20 “ 


Total depth .1510 “ 


A small flow of gas and oil yielding 25 barrels a day was obtained. 
Five wells drilled near Portland reached the Trenton at 17, 63, 62, 67, 
and 71 feet below sea level. Oil was obtained from sections 5, 6, 10, 21, 
and 26, and gas from 5, 6, 10, 17, 21, and 22. 

Richland Township. At Red Key the Trenton was reached at 900 feet 
and a flow of gas a few feet below the top of the Trenton resulted. At 
Dunkirk the Trenton was reached at 925 feet and a flow of 5,000,000 cubic 
feet of gas obtained. A second well reached the Trenton at 930 feet and 
produced a strong flow of gas at 955 feet. A section of this well is 
given below: 

Section of Dunkirk Well. 


Drift . 60 feet. 

Niagara limestone . 230 “ 

Hudson River and Utica. 640 “ 

Trenton limestone . 25 “ 


Total depth . 955 “ 


Oil was obtained in this township in sections 13, 16, 24, 25, 28, and 36, 
and gas in 9, 24, and 26. Wells have been abandoned as follows: Section 
2, 1 well; section 12, 1 well; section 13, 1 well; section 23, 1 well; section 
24, 1 well; section 26, 1 well; section 29, 5 wells. 

Penn Township. At Camden the Trenton is reached at 935 feet and 
gas at 963 feet. The average depth of the drift at Camden is 35 feet 
and the average depth of the Trenton 925 feet. Nearly all the sections 
in this township have produced oil or gas or both. Wells have been 
abandoned in section 1, 1 well; section 2, 1 well; section 5, 4 wells; 
section 8, 9 wells; section 14, 1 well; section 21, 3 wells; section 26, 1 well. 

Jefferson Township. Gas is reported to have been found at Coneo in 
this township. The following wells were drilled and plugged: Section 32, 
1 well; section 35, 3 wells; section 36, 4 wells. 

Greene Township. Oil was obtained in sections 8, 17, 20, and 24, and 
gas in 4, 5, 6, 7, 18, 19, 20, 23, 26, 28, 31, 32, 34, and 35. Wells were aban¬ 
doned in section 7, 1 well. 















150 


Jackson Township. Oil was obtained in this township from sections 
I. 2, 3, 4, 5, (I, 7. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 10, 17, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 20, 27, 
28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, and 36. Gas was obtained in sections 7, 18, 19, 20, 
21, 25, 29, 30, and 32. Wells have been plugged in section 3, 1 well; 
section 4, 1 well; section 11, 1 well; section 12, 5 wells; section 14, 
2 wells; section 17, 2 wells; section 24, 1 well; section 31, 1 well. 

Knox Township. Oil was found in sections 1, 4, 11, and gas in sections 
1, 2, 25, and 36. Wells have been abandoned in section 1, 2 wells. 


Pike Township. Oil was found in sections 7, 8, and 34. Wells have 
been abandoned in section 23, 1 well; section 35, 2 wells. Recently wells 
were drilled in this township as follows: 

James Tharp No. 1. N. E. N. W. Section 29, Township 22 N, 


Range 14 E: 

Mud, sand and gravel. 189 feet. 

Limestone . 91 “ 

Slate and shale. 800 “ 

In Trenton limestone. 20 “ 


Total depth 


1100 “ 


Grant Whitenack, No. 2. S. E. 1 / 4, N. W. 1 / i, Section 28, Township 22 N., 


Range 14 E: 

Mud, sand and gravel. 137 feet. 

Limestone . 203 “ 

Slate and shale. 690 “ 

In Trenton limestone. 20 “ 


Total depth .1050 “ 

Corn. Whitenack No. 2, N. E. N. W. 1 / 4, Section 28, Township 22 N, 
Range 14 E: 

Mud, sand and gravel. 140 feet. 

Limestone . 690 “ 

Slate and shale. 691 “ 

In Trenton limestone. 32 “ 


Total depth .....1064 “ 

Wells drilled by Union Heat, Light and Power Company. 

Noble Township. Oil occurred in sections 3, 4, 5, 17, and 27. Gas in 
sections 8 and 17. 

Bear Creek Township. At Bryant the top of the Trenton is 1020 feet 
or 160 feet below sea level. Oil was obtained 30 feet below the top of 
the Trenton. The following are the records of two wells drilled on the 
Kuhn lease, in the southwest quarter of section 28: 

Well No. 7 Well No. 2 


Drive pipe (drift). 

. 78 feet. 

104 

feet 

Casing . 

. 245 “ 

238 

a 

Top of Trenton. 

♦ 

.1004 “ 

997 

it 

Total depth . 

.1050 “ 

1048 

a 

























The record of a well drilled by W. J. Heeter in section 3 is given as 


follows: 

Drift . 73 feet. 

White limestone . 131 “ 

White slate . 10 “ 

White lime . 20 “ 

Slate (shale) . 30 “ 

Limestone . 15 “ 

Slate . 40 “ 

Blue lime . 5 “ 

White slate . 75 “ 

Blue lime . 10 “ 

White slate ._. 305 “ 

Brown shale . 300 “ 

Black slate . 12 “ 

Trenton rock . 50 “ 


Total depth .1081 “ 


Showing of oil at 20 feet in Trenton. 

Salt water, strong flow. 

Oil was obtained in sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9', 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 
18, 21, 24. 30, and 31, and gas in sections 14, 18, 19, 22, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 
and 34. Wells have been plugged in section 3, 1 well; section 5, 1 well; 
section 8, 1 well; section 9, 4 wells; section 10, 2 wells; section 14, 4 wells; 
section 16, 2 wells; section 17, 1 well; section 20, 3 wells; section 26, 
2 wells; section 27, 2 wells; section 33, 1 well. 

Wabash Township. Oil was found in sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 
and 32; gas in 19. Wells have been plugged in section 7, 1 well; section 
18, 5 wells. 

Well No. 2, Bon Macy Farm. 


Gravel, sand and mud. 50 feet. 

Limestone . 200 “ 

Slate and limestone. 300 “ 

Slate . 300 “ 

Brown shale . 150 “ 

Gray shale . 25 


Top of Trenton.1025 

Into Trenton . 45 


Madison Township. Wells have been drilled at various points in this 
township. Four wells were drilled and abandoned in section 33 and 1 in 
section 28. 





























JEFFERSON COUNTY 

The strata which outcrop in Jefferson County belong to the Ordovician, 
Silurian, Devonian and Quaternary periods. The subdivisions as given 
by Cumings, Siebenthal and others are given in the following outlines: 


Quaternary 


['Recent—clays and alluvium 
[Pleistocene—sand gravels and till 


'New Albany—shales 
Sellersburg—limestone 

Devonian. 

Silver Creek—limestone 
Jeffersonville—limestone 


Silurian 


Ordovician 


'Louisville—limestone 

Waldron—shale 

Laurel—limestone 

Osgood—limestone and shale 

Brassfield—shales 


Richmond—shales 


Elkhorn 

Whitewater 

Saluda 

Liberty 

Waynesville 

Arnheim 


Marysville—shales 


'Mt. Auburn 
Corryville 
< Bellevue 
Fairmount 
Mt. Hope 


Eden—shales 

l 


['McMicken 
j Southgate 
Economy 
Fulton 


The Quaternary covering in this county varies in thickness from a few 
feet to fifty feet. Sufficient outcrops of the bed rock may be obtained to 
determine the structure. Probably the best key horizon for the west part 
of the county will be the contact between the Sellersburg limestone and 














the New Albany shale. Farther east the Laurel or the Louisville lime¬ 
stone might be used. Some gas has been obtained from near Foltz in 
the Niagara limestone. These wells were reported to have a pressure 
of 20 pounds in 1914. 















































































































































JENNINGS COUNTY 

The strata which outcrop in Jennings County are given in the table 
below: 


Quarternary 


Devonian 


Recent —residual clays and alluvium 


^Pleistocene—gravels, sand and till 


"New Albany—shales 
Sellersburg—limestone 

- 

Silver Creek—limestone 
Jeffersonville—limestone 


Silurian. Louisville—limestone 

The Devonian and the Silurian strata are largely concealed by tne 
surficial deposits of drift and alluvium, but enough outcrops have been 
obtained to enable the construction of a structural map covering a large 
part of the county. See page 156. The field work in the preparation of 
the map was done by Dr. C. A. Malott and P. B. Stockdale, members of 
the field party of 1919. 

Gas has been obtained at North Vernon in wells drilled on structure, 
though perhaps not on the best part of it. A record of one of the wells 
is given below 2 : 

Section of Well No. 1. 


Surface clay . 11 feet. 

Corniferous limestone . 28 “ 

Niagara limestone . 252 “ 

Clinton (?) limestone . 29 “ 

Hudson River limestone . 440 “ 

Utica shale . 220 “ 

Trenton limestone .-. 470 “ 


Total depth .1450 feet. 

Trenton below sea level . 253 “ 


Yielded medium flow of gas. 


JOHNSON COUNTY 

The subsurface rocks of Johnson County consist of the New Albany 
black shale, which occupies the eastern portion of the county and the 
Knobstone group occupying the western part. The surface is covered 
with glacial drift. 

A well drilled in Ninevah Township about nine miles south of Franklin 
reached the Trenton at 1273 feet; the first 60 feet of the Trenton was 
porous and contained a showing of oil. It was a wildcat well drilled 
















without any reference to structure. The Trenton was passed through 
at 1820 feet, showing 547 feet of Trenton at this point. 

The Trenton limestone was reached in the southeastern part of the 
county at 987 feet; in the central part at 1042 feet, and in the north 
central part at 1220 feet. 


The following are the records of some of the wells drilled in the county: 


Vandivin Well No. 1, Section 9, Nineveh Township. 


Drift . 

Sandy lime. 

Gray shale . 

Slate . 

Red rock . 

Sandy lime. 

Brown shale . 

Jeffersonville lime 

Gray shale . 

Brown lime . 

Gray shale . 

Gray lime . 

Slate . 

Dark brown lime .. 

Slate . 

Gray lime . 

Slate . 

Gray lime . 

Slate . 

Gray lime .. 

Slate . 

Brown lime . 

Gray lime . 

Slate . 

Trenton rock . 


to 16 feet. 
“ 33 “ 

“ 285 “ 

“ 295 “ 

“ 327 “ 

" 335 “ 

“ 425 “ 

“ 702 “ 

“ 704 “ 

“ 745 “ 

“ 750 “ 

“ 795 “ 


“ 953 “ 

“ 977 “ 

“ 982 “ 

“ 1017 “ 

“ 1022 “ 
“ 1072 “ 

“ 1077 “ 

“ 1082 “ 
“ 1097 “ 

“ 1105 “ 

“ 1107 “ 

“ 1273 “ 

“ 1830 “ 


This well showed some oil in the first 15 feet 


of Trenton rock. 


Mullindore Well No. 1, Section 3, Nineveh Township. 


Drift . to 34 

Gravel . “ 37 

Hardpan . “ 65 

Gray shale . “ 100 

Gray lime . “ 105 

Gray shale . “ 160 

Lime . “ 165 

Brown shale . “ 261 

Jeffersonville lime . “ 440 

Gray shale . “ 445 

Gray lime . “ 482 

Gray shale . “ 487 


feet. 


<< 







































Gray lime . to 531 feet 

Gray shale .,. “ 765 “ 

Slate . “ 843 “ 

Gray lime . “ 848 “ 

Utica shale, dark gray . “ 1129 “ 

Trenton rock . “ 1164 “ 


Drilled 28 feet in the Trenton. Small show¬ 
ing of oil in the first five feet of the 
rock. 

A well drilled at Franklin was reported by Dr. D. A. Owen as follows: 


Drift . 170 feet. 

Black shale . 34 “ 

Blue and gray limestone . 71 “ 

Sandstone . 27 “ 

Blue shale (upper Niagara) . 23 “ 

Gray and white limestone . 120 “ 

Greenish blue shale varying to black. 597 “ 

Trenton limestone . 71 “ 


Total depth .1113 feet. 

Altitude of well . 736 “ 


A well drilled in the southeastern part of the county at Edinburg is 


reported as follows: 

Drift . 115 feet. 

Shale . 20 “ 

Limestone . 220 “ 

Shale . 622 “ 

Trenton limestone . 500 “ 

Shale . 83 “ 

White sandstone . 10 “ 

Total depth .1580 feet. 

Altitude of well . 670 “ 


A well was drilled at Greenwood the record of which is as follows: 


Drift . 210 feet. 

Black shale . 90 “ 

Limestone . 280 “ 

Whitish shale . 40 “ 

Gray shale . 300 “ 

Dark Utica shale . 300 “ 

Trenton limestone . 55 “ 

St. Peter’s sandstone . 200 “ 


Lower Magnesian limestone. 





































157 


KNOX COUNTY 

This county lies in the area occupied by the strata of the Pennsylvania 
division, but these bed rock strata are covered with a mantle of glacial 
drift and alluvium which varies in thickness from twenty-five to more 
than one hundred feet, so that the determination of structure by direct 
observational methods is not possible. Subsurface work will depend upon 
the amount of data secured from well records. To secure a sufficient 
number of such records will require a large amount of wild cat drilling. 
A well drilled about eight miles south of Vincennes has produced some 
oil and the prospects of the extension of favorable structures north of 
the Gibson County line are encouraging. It may be possible, by using 
data from coal mines, wells, etc., to outline the structure on some of 
the coals. 


Washington Township. A well drilled in the southeast quarter of 
section 30 reached a dry sand at 1252 feet. 


Decker Township. A well was drilled on the property of J. Cunningham 
in section 12 and plugged in 1912. No record of the well has been 
obtained. 


Record of Bore Northeast of Vincennes. 


Drive pipe to bed rock.to 

Yellow sandstone . “ 

Slate and shale. “ 

Sandstone, limestone and shale. “ 

Coal . “ 

Blue limestone . “ 

Light shale . “ 

Soapstone . “ 

Limestone . 

Light shale . 

Sandstone . 

Slate and shale. 

Fire clay . 

Blue shale . 

Limestone . 

Blue slate. 

Black shale . 

Sandstone . 

Soapstone . 

Slate . 

Limestones and slates. 

White sandstone and salt water. “ 

Slate and shale. 

Blue limestone . 

Soapstone and shale. 

White sandstone and salt water. 

Sandstone . 

Sandstone and shale alternately 
Limestone . 


45 feet 
80 “ 
195 “ 

335 “ 

340 “ 

350 “ 

360 “ 

390 “ 

425 “ 

435 “ 

465 “ 

485 “ 

505 “ 

520 “ 

525 “ 

545 “ 

565 “ 

580 “ 

590 “ 

625 “ 

640 “ 

670 “ 

700 “ 

702 “ 

785 “ 

800 “ 
815 “ 

940 “ 

950 “ 






























158 


Black slate . to 980 feet 

Sandstone . “ 1000 “ 

Slate . “ 1020 “ 

Streaks of slate and limestone. “ 1130 “ 

Sandstone . “ 1180 “ 

Shale . “ 1200 “ 

Sandstone . “ 1292 “ 

Shale . “ 1298 “ 

Gray limestone . “ 1310 “ 

Shale . “ 1315 “ 

Soapstone . “ 1325 “ 

Shale . “ 1335 “ 

Blue limestone . “ 1340 “ 

White sandstone . “ 1365 “ 

Shale . “ 1375 “ 

Blue limestone . “ 1385 “ 

Slate ...1 “ 1400 “ 

Red rock . “ 1410 “ 

Sandstone and salt water. “ 1430 “ 

Shale (cased) . “ 1535 “ 

Gray limestone . “ 1655 “ 

Shale . “ 1660 “ 

Blue limestone . “ 1665 “ 

Slate and shale. “ 1690 “ 

Sandstone and sulphur water. “ 1740 “ 

Slate . “ 1750 “ 

Shale . “ 1755 “ 

Gray limestone . “ 1765 “ 

Shale and gray limestone. “ 1820 “ 

Bed rock . “ 1825 “ 

Hard gray limestone. “ 1840 “ 

Soapstone . “ 1845 “ 

Gray limestone . “ 1850 “ 

Soapstone . “ 1860 “ 

Vincennes Artesian Salt Well 

Sand and gravel. 80 feet. 

Sandstone . 18 “ 

Soapstone . 100 “ 

Hard pebble rock. 10 “ 

Sandy shale . 15 “ 

Soapstone . 32 “ 

Blue sandstone . 35 “ 

Sandy shale .l. 20 “ 

Soapstone . 10 “ 

Coal . 3 “ 

Soapstone . 18 “ 

Coal . 5 “ 

Soapstone . 18 “ 


















































Black shale . 41 

Soapstone . 138 

Coal . 

Limestone . 10 

Blue shale . 27 

Black slate . 

Soapstone and shale. 

Sandstone . 15 

Slate and soapstone... 75 

Sandstone and salt water. 25 

Slate and shale. 

Sandstone . 175 

Shale and black slate. 140 

Sandstone . 96 

Total depth . 

Well No. 1 on the Geo. Ryan farm, 200 feet N., 
Section 36, Twp. 2N., R. 11 W. Knox County. Oct. 
and abandoned. 

Soil . 

Gravel . “ 

Slate, white . 

White lime. 

Slate, black . 

White lime. “ 

Slate . 

Lime . 

Slate . 

Lime . 

Slate . 

Sand . 

Slate . 

Sand . 

Black slate .. 

Sand . 

Black slate .. 

White slate . 

Black slate . 

Lime . 

White slate . 

Black slate . 

Lime . 

Black slate . 

Lime . 

White slate . 

Sand . 

Slate, black, soft. 

Lime . 



. 41 

feet 


. 138 

a 


. 5 

a 


. 10 

a 


. 27 

a 


. 30 

i t 


. 80 

a 


. 15 

a 


. 75 

a 


. 25 

i t 


. 95 

a 


. 175 

a 


. 140 

a 


. 96 

it 


.1336 

a 


200 feet 

ct. 

8, 1919. 

to 

6 

feet 

it 

10 

a 

a 

175 

a 

a 

179 

a 

it 

185 

a 

it 

195 

a 

u 

310 

a 

a 

315 

a 

a 

340 

a 

a 

343 

a 

a 

360 

a 

tt 

480 

a 

a 

500 

a 

u 

540 

a 

tt 

600 

a 

a 

624 

a 

u 

635 

a 

a 

655 

a 

a 

673 

a 

cc 

675 

a 

<c 

710 

a 

a 

716 

a 

a 

746 

a 

a 

775 

a 

a 

781 

a 

a 

840 

a 

ft 

865 

a 

tt 

900 

ft 

a 

904 

it 















































Slate ... 

Sand . 

Slate . 

Lime . 

Slate . 

Sand, hole full of water 

Black slate . 

Sand . 

White slate . 

Lime, hard . 

Slate . 

Sand . 

Lime, hard. 

Slate . 

Sand, hard . 

Slate . 

Lime . 

Sand . 

Lime, hard . 

Slate . 

Sand . 

Slate . 

Sand . 

Lime . 

Slate . 

Lime . 

Slate . 

Lime . 

Slate . 

Red rock . 

Lime . 

Sand . 

Slate . 

Sand, hole full of water.. 

Slate . 

Lime ... 

Slate . 

Sand . 

Slate . 

Brown lime . 

Lime . 

Sandy lime, oil. 

Sand . 

Red rock . 

Lime . 

Sand . 

Lime . 

Dark lime . 


to B60 feet 
“ 1060 “ 

“ 1080 “ 

“ 1100 “ 

“ 1120 “ 

“ 1145 “ 

“ 1195 “ 

“ 1215 “ 

“ 1220 “ 

“ 1222 “ 

“ 1310 “ 

“ 1350 “ 

“ 1365 “ 

“ 1370 “ 

“ 1395 “ 

“ 1400 “ 

“ 1405 “ 

“ 1440 “ 

“ 1442 “ 

“ 1460 “ 

“ 1466 “ 

“ 1485 “ 

“ 1545 “ 

“ 1551 “ 

“ 1558 “ 

“ 1564 “ 

“ 1600 “ 

“ 1615 “ 

“ 1635 “ 

“ 1643 “ 

“ 1648 “ 

“ 1653 “ 

“ 1675 “ 

“ 1727 “ 

“ 1735 “ 

“ 1753 “ 

“ 1759 “ 

“ 1772 “ 

“ 1777 “ 

“ 1808 “ 

“ 1814 “ 

“ 1818 “ 

“ 1824 “ 

“ 1827 “ 

“ 1838 “ 

“ 1850 “ 

“ 1868 “ 

“ 1882 “ 



















































Lime shell, volites.*..to 1894 feet 

White lime . “ 1897 “ 

Lime, brown, hard. “ 1920 “ 

Lime, soft . “ 1930 “ 

Lime . “ 2004 “ 


Total depth . “ 2004 “ 


KOSCIUSKO COUNTY 

Underlying the glacial drift which covers the surface of this county 
are strata of Devonian age consisting of a series of limestones and shales. 
The strata dip northward away from the arm of the Cincinnati Arch, 
which passes through Indiana. The drift attains a thickness of over two 
hundred fifty feet in this county. 

Warsaw. The record of a well drilled at Warsaw is given below: 


Drift . 248 feet. 

Limestone (Silurian and Devonian). 652 “ 

Shale (Ordovician) . 487 “ 

Trenton limestone . 50 “ 


Total depth .1437 feet. 

Altitude of well . 815 “ 


Syracuse. The record of a well drilled at Syracuse on the property 
of the Sandusky Cement Company was furnished the writer by Mr. S. B. 
Newberry, President of the company. The record of the well shows 
sixty-three feet of New Albany (Devonian) shale underlying the drift. 
The well probably ended in the Jeffersonville .'imestone of the Devonian. 
By consulting the Warsaw well record above, it will be seen that the 
total thickness of the Devonian and the Silurian limestone is recorded 
as being 652 feet. In the Elkhart well the Now Albany shale has a 
thickness of 215 feet, which is to be expected as it is down in the basin 
north of the arch. The well stopped in lime. c ,tone at sixty-five feet. From 
the evidence of these wells the Devonian limestone is thicker here than 


in the southern part of Indiana. 

Sand, gravel, clay and boulders. 278 feet. 

Gray and dark shale . 63 “ 

Gray argillaceous limestone . 42 “ 

Crystalline gray and white limestone 

showing oil . 20 


Total 


403 feet. 


341-351 feet 


["Carbonate of lime. 

.<1 Carbonate of magnesia. 
I Insoluble. 


51.40 
11.93 

32.40 


























351-361 feet 

* * 

*361-371 feet 

371-381 feet 


'Carbonate of lime. 

.< Carbonate of magnesia 

Insoluble . 

"Carbonate of lime. 

< Carbonate of magnesia 
Insoluble. 

f Carbonate of lime. 

Carbonate of magnesia 
Insoluble. 


72.00 

7.73 

17.50 

66.60 

9.24 

21.24 

48.60 

8.57 

37.87 


This appears to be similar to the cement rock of southeastern Indiana, 
but of much greater thickness than recorded in that region. 


381-390 feet. 

392-403 feet 


'Carbonate of lime. 

.< Carbonate of magnesia 

Insoluble. 

(Carbonate of lime. 

J Carbonate of magnesia 
Insoluble. 


71.60 

23.52 

3.36 

75.40 

19.32 

2.00 


LAGRANGE COUNTY 

Glacial drift occupies the surface of this county to a depth probably 
varying in thickness from 100 to 200 feet. The bed rock formations 
consist of strata belonging to the Devonian and the Mississippian periods. 
As these formations lie to the north of the Indiana extension of the 
Cincinnati arch they dip toward the north. 

On account of the covering of the glacial drift the structural conditions 
of the bed rock cannot be determined by surficial observation. The 
possibility of oil and gas accumulations are connected with the possible 
occurrences of terraces, or small anticlines in the strata of the northward 
dipping formations. These can be located by means of well records only. 


LAKE COUNTY 

Silurian and Devonian strata underlie the glacial drift in this county. 
Because of the overlying mantle of drift stratigraphical and structural 
conditions of the bed rock are difficult to determine. At Crown Point 
the Trenton lies 919 feet below the surface, south of this point it should 
be encountered nearer the surface for points of the same or less elevation 
than Crown Point. At the north it will be found to lie deeper as the 
strata dip to the north. 

Center Township. The following is the record of the well at Crown 
Point: 

Drift . 176 feet. 

Black shale . 76 “ 

Limestone . 433 “ 

Bluish green shale. 55 “ 

Clinton limestone . 37 “ 

Bluish green Hudson River shale. 122 “ 

































Fig-. 42. Map of a portion of Lake and Newton Counties showing the 
location of the Thayer oil field. 


Trenton limestone . 342 feet 

White limestone (sandy). 89 " 

Limestone . 15 “ 


Total depth ..1365 “ 

Altitude of well. 736 “ 

Trenton below sea level. 183 “ 

West Township. The following is the record of a well drilled on the 
farm of Martin Driscoll, section 23, T. 33 N., R. 9 E., Lake County: 


Drift . 

Gray limestone . 

. 73 feet. 

. 73 to 598 

feet. 

Red shale ... 

. 598 “ 

607 

it 

Green-gray slate . 

..... 607 “ 

640 

C6 

Shelly limestone . 

..... 640 “ 

705 

a 

Limestone . 

. 705 “ 

715 

u 

Limestone with salt water. 

..... 715 “ 

735 

a 




























1G4 


Dark gray limestone.. 

Slate . 

Dark gray limestone.. 
Hard white limestone 

Gray limestone . 

Trace of oil. 


735 to 795 feet 
795 “ 850 “ 

850 “ 870 “ 

870 “ 890 “ 

890 “ 1025 “ 

. 905 feet. 


Good showing of oil. 925 “ 

Total depth .1025 “ 


Well plugged August 18, 1914. 



Fig-. 43. Map showing- the location of oil wells in the Wilder oil field 
on the border between Laporte and Porter Counties. 


LAPORTE COUNTY 

Underlying the glacial drift in this county are strata of Devonian age. 
The drift attains a thickness of three hundred feet or more. The dip 
of the bed rock is toward the north. The drift at Laporte has a thickness 
of 295 feet and overlies black shale. At Michigan City the drift is 250 
feet thick and overlies limestone. 






















Michigan Township. The drift varies from 170 to 250 feet and overlies 
black shale and limestone at Michigan City. 

Center Township. A deep well drilled at Laporte contained the follow¬ 


ing section: 

Drift . 295 feet. 

Black shale . 125 “ 

Shale and limestone. 460 “ 

Limestone . 500 “ 

Trenton limestone . 520 “ 

St. Peter and Low. Magnesian. 600 “ 

Potsdam sandstone . 323 “ 


Total depth .2823 “ 


Galena Township. A deep well was drilled on the property of O. L. 
Sutherland two miles east of Reason in section 2. No record was 
obtained of this well. It was plugged in 1911. 



Fig. 44. Structural map of a portion of Lawrence County. 





































LAWRENCE COUNTY 


Geology. A small portion of the surface in the eastern part of the 
county is occupied by the Knobstone, the remainder by the Harrodsburg 
limestone, the central portion by the Salem and the Mitchell limestone 
and the western portion by the Chester formations and the Pottsville. 

Structure. The presence of the Mount Carmel fault and the Heltonville 
fault in the eastern part of the county produce a fold extending in a 
general north and south direction parallel to these faults. A change 
in direction of the Mt. Carmel fault at Leesville produces an anticlinal 
area southwest of Leesville which has been productive of gas and has 
to date produced a showing of oil in the Corniferous. The wells which 
have been drilled have not gone to the Trenton. In the neighborhood of 
Heltonville three wells have been drilled and a small amount of gas 
and oil obtained. These wells are located near the fold produced by 
the down throw of the strata, but the structure seems not to have been 
considered. 

Heltonville Well. In 1913 the Bedford Oil and Gas Company drilled 
three wells near Heltonville. One of these wells was drilled to a depth 
of 1707 feet, entered the Trenton at 1633 feet and encountered a showing 
of oil at about 1675 feet. 


Record of Heltonville Well. 

Thickness Depth 


Surface soil, etc. 

15 

feet. 


Shale (knobstone) . 

85 

a 

100 

feet 

Limestone (lense in Knobstone) 

60 

it 

160 

it 

Sand (7 feet of oil sand). 

20 

a 

180 

(i 

Shale . 

10 

a 

190 

it 

Shale (white) . 

310 

a 

500 

a 

Shale . 

100 

a 

600 

a 

Shale . 

40 

a 

640 

a 

Sand, gas and oil bearing. 

10 

a 

650 

a 

Shale . 

50 

a 

700 

II 

Limestone ... 

15 

a 

715 

a 

Shale . 

38 

tt 

753 

a 

Oil sand . 

3 

a 

756 

a 

Limestone (water) . 

334 

a 

1090 

a 

Shale . 

543 

a 

1633 

a 

Trenton limestone . 

74 

a 

1707 

a 


The following is a record of Easton Well No. 1 drilled in the same 
township: 


Easton No. 1 Well. 

Drift . 

Gravel . 

Lime . 

Shale . 

White mud . 

Lime . 


Pleasant Run Townshi 

.. 20 feet. 

. 5 “ 

. 5 “ 

. 75 “ 

. 150 “ 

. 200 “ 


P 
























167 


Black shale . 

White slate ... 

Brown shale . 

Lime . 

Brown sand . 

Lime . 

Gray sand . 

White sandy lime. 

Blue lime . 

Gray sand . 

Lime . 

White slate . 

Lime . 

Brown shale . 

Broken shale with lime 

Brown shale . 

Trenton at.. 

Gray sand at. 

Light brown sand at. 

Finished at. 


5 

feet 

95 

a 

40 

n 

70 

a 

15 

“ Mineral water. 

15 

u 

5 

“ Some gas. 

5 

<< 

90 

ii 

35 

“ Mineral water. 

100 

<< 

150 

a 

5 

a 

100 

a 

50 

u 

240 

u 

1540 

n 

.1020 

“ No oil, 15 foot s 

.1715 

5 foot s 

1750 

a 


The second well was drilled near the first to a depth of 1100 feet and 
encountered a moderate flow of gas at 1090 feet. A third well was 
drilled about a mile south of the first two and resulted in a dry hole. 


Flinn Township. Gas has been obtained from the Corniferous in this 
township in sections 3, 4, 5, and 28. Four of these wells were drilled by 
Mr. W. H. Wheitknecht and associates, and the fifth by Mr. Claude Malott. 
The following are brief records of the Wheitknecht wells: No. 1 is 
located in section 3, No. 2 in section 4, and Nos. 3 and 4 in section 28. 
No. 5 is in section 5. 



No. 1 

No. 2 

No. 3 

No. 4 

No. 5 

Elevation above sea. 

. 587 

566 

709 

608 

570 

Top of Corniferous. 

. 597 

616 

683 

600 

512 

Water . 

. 635 

655 

714 

636 

550 


These wells were all drilled on the east side of the structure where 
the strata are dipping toward the fault line. A showing of oil was found 
in two of the wells. These wells all started in the Knobstone and passed 
through four feet of Rockford Goniatite limestone and one hundred and 
twenty-five feet of New Albany shale and about thirty-eight feet of 
Devonian limestone before reaching water. A slightly different inter¬ 
pretation of the well records might modify the outline of the structure 
shown on the structural map. The elevations taken on the contact by 
the use of the aneroid barometer may vary slightly from the true eleva¬ 
tions but probably not enough to make a serious change in the structural 
map. 


























168 



Fig. 45. Map of Madison County showing location of abandoned wells. 
Gas territory exists in the eastern tier and in Fall Creek Township, 
oil in Richland and Monroe. 






























































































MADISON COUNTY 

The eioded surface of the Niagara limestone underlies the glacial drift 
in this county and may be reached at from five to one hundred and fifty 
feet. Gas has been produced in every township and oil in some parts 
ol the county. The oil sand is reached at from 800 to 1200 feet. The 

surface of the Trenton lies between 100 feet above and 100 feet below 
sea level. 

Anderson Township. The record of a well drilled at Anderson is given 


below: 

. 114 feet. 

Niagara limestone and shale. 186 “ 

Clinton (?) . 20 “ 

Hudson River and Utica . 494 “ 

Trenton limestone . 24 “ 

Total depth . 838 feet. 

Trenton above sea level . 66 “ 


A great many wells were drilled in this township, most of which 
produced gas. 

Boone Township. Wells were drilled and abandoned in section 11, 
2 wells; section 19, 1 well. 

Monroe Township. A well drilled at Alexandria has the following log: 


Drift . 20 feet. 

Niagara limestone . 261 “ 

Hudson River and Utica . 611 “ 

Trenton limestone . 5 “ 


Total depth . 897 feet. 

Well No. 3, B. Markle, Monroe Township. 

Clay, gravel and quicksand . 84 feet. 

Limestone . 246 “ 

Slate . 593 “ 

Trenton rock at. 923 “ 

In Trenton . 77 “ 


Total depth .1000 feet. 


Many wells were drilled and much gas and oil were obtained from this 
township. Wells have been abandoned in section 2, 3 wells; section 4, 
2 wells; section 8, 1 well; section 10, 1 well; section 12, 2 wells; section 
13, 1 well; section 15, 1 well; section 19, 1 well; section 24, 2 wells; 
section 27, 1 well; section 32, 1 well; section 33, 1 well; section 34, 1 well. 























170 


Van Buren Township. At Summit, the strata encountered are: 


Drift . 98 feet. 

White limestone. 45 “ 

Blue limestone . 195 “ 

Soft bluish green shale . 388 “ 

Black shale . 200 “ 

Trenton limestone . 45 “ 


Total depth . 971 feet. 

An oil well in the eastern limits of Summit yielded 120 barrels per 
day and has the following log: 

Drive pipe . 120 feet. 

Casing . 440 “ 

Top of Trenton . 940 “ 

Total depth .:.1042 “ 

Wells have been abandoned in the following sections: Section 7, 1 
well; section 8, 1 well; section 10, 1 well; section 17, 1 well; section 21, 
2 wells; section 22, 2 wells; section 26, 3 wells; section 27, 5 wells; 
section 28, 1 well; section 31, 1 well; section 34, 6 wells. 

Duck Creek Township. A well drilled on the William Shafer farm in 
section 24 has the following record: 


Drive pipe . 36 feet. 

Casing . 228 “ 

Top of Trenton. 938 “ 

Total depth .1238 “ 


One well has been plugged in section 14, and one in section 15. 


Pipe Creek Township. The following strata were encountered in a well 


at Elwood: 

Drift . 54 feet. 

Niagara limestone and shale . 270 “ 

Hudson river limestone . 260 “ 

Utica shale . 340 “ 

Trenton limestone . 16 “ 


Total depth . 940 feet. 

Trenton below sea level. 66 “ 

At Frankton the strata pierced by a well are as follows: 

Drift . 88 feet. 

Niagara limestone and shale . 272 “ 

Hudson River and Utica .:. 480 “ 

Trenton limestone . 22 “ 


Total depth . 862 feet. 


Two wells have been plugged, one in section 15, the other in section 28. 
































Fall Creek Township. At Pennelton, the first well drilled passed through 


the following: 

Drift . 5 feet. 

Corniferous limestone . 2 “ 

Sandstone. 14 " 

Upper Niagara shale. 20 “ 

Limestone . 200 “ 

Shale (Lower Niagara) . 5 “ 

Limestone . 4 “ 

Shale (green and brown) .-... 610 “ 

Trenton limestone.........87 “ 


Total depth .....947 feet. 

Altitude of well ..,.841 “ 


Wells were plugged in 1913 in section 7 and one in section 16, in 1916. 

Adams Township. Gas wells were drilled in and near Markleville. 
A few wells are still supplying gas (1919). 

Wells were plugged in Green Township in sections 6 and 21 in 1911, 
and 1913, and in Lafayette Township in section 18 in 1916. 



Fig-. 46. Map showing location of Broad Ripple oil field in Marion 
County. Position of abandoned and pumping wells shown, 

















































































MARION COUNTY 

The bed rock of this county consists of limestones of the Silurian age 
and limestones and shales of the Devonian and the Mississippian ages. 
These formations are concealed by glacial drift which varies in thickness 
from 25 feet to 200 feet. The surface of the Trenton lies from 100 feet 
above to 200 below sea level and the depth to the Trenton is from 800 
to 1100 feet. 

Washington Township. At Broad Ripple a number of oil wells have 
been brought in recently. The record of one of the wells is given below: 


Drift . 55 feet. 

Corniferous limestone . 48 “ 

Niagara limestone . 257 “ 

Hudson River and Utica . 504 “ 

Trenton limestone . 24 “ 


Total depth . 888 feet. 

Trenton below sea level . 109 “ 


Centre Township. A well at Brightwood passed through 199 feet of 
drift and reached the Trenton at 951 feet, below this a little gas and oil 
were obtained and salt water reached at 1181 feet. Eight producing gas 
wells were obtained northeast of Brightwood. 

Lawrence Township. At Lawrence a number of wells were drilled. 
One was reported to have reached the Trenton at 1010 feet and salt 
water at 1015 feet. 

Warren Township. A well drilled at Irvington reached the Trenton 
at 966 feet and salt water at 990 feet. At Cumberland the Trenton was 
reached at 1039 feet. 

Wayne Township. The log of a well reported by Judge E. B. Martindalc 


at Bridgeport is as follows: 

Drift . 160 feet. 

Black shale . 140 “ 

Limestone . 360 “ 

Shale . 490 “ 

Trenton limestone . 50 “ 


Total depth .1200 feet. 

Altitude of well about . 750 “ 

The record of a well drilled one and one-half miles northwest of Bridge¬ 
port is as follows: 

Drift (clay and gravel) . 170 feet. 

Soapstone (Knobstone shale) . 85 “ 

Black and brown Genesee shale . 125 “ 

Corniferous limestone . 140 “ 

Niagara shale . 50 “ 

Niagara limestone . 100 “ 


Total depth 


670 feet. 


























1 70 

The following are the records of wells drilled on the farm of D. H. 
Wiggins, Broad Ripple, in 1918-1919: 


No. 1. No. 2. No. 4. No. 7. No. 8. 

Drive pipe . 36 35 24 31 40 feet. 

Casing .368 365 360 365 340 “ 

Sand at.858 854 855 848% 860 “ 

Total depth.878 862% 868 860 875 “ 


Two wells drilled on the farm of Mr. Britton of Broad Ripple in 1919 . 
are as follows: 



No. 3. 

No. 5. 

Drive Pipe. 

. 26 

39 feet 

Casing . 

.365 

380 “ 

Sand at . 

.864 

867 “ 

Total depth . 

.883 

883 “ 


The following are the logs of two wells drilled on the Wheeler farm, 
in Broad Ripple, in 1919: 



No. 1. 

No. 2. 


Drive pipe . 

. 51 

72% 

feet. 

Casing . 

.340 

315 

<< 

Sand at . 

.853 

847.4 

ti 

Total depth . 

.871 

859 

a 


The following well was drilled on the Carter farm in 1919, in the Broad 
Ripple field: 


Drive pipe 

Casing . 

Sand at . 

Total depth 


35 feet. 
360 
851 

866 % “ 


MARSHALL COUNTY 

Shales and limestones of Devonian age underlie the glacial drift in 
this county. The dip of the strata is toward the north, so for points of 
equal elevation above sea level, the Trenton is nearer the surface in 
the southern part of the county than in the northern part. The glacial 
drift which lies on the eroded surface of the bed rock has a thickness of 
from one hundred to two hundred and fifty feet. Plymouth has a number 
of flowing artesian wells which are forty to fifty feet deep and draw their 
supply from the glacial drift. The total thickness of the glacial drift at 
this point is 242 feet. In a deep well drilled at Plymouth, the Trenton 
was reached at 1368 feet. The altitude of the well is 783 feet, and the 
surface of the Trenton is 585 feet below sea level. 

Minor folds may exist in the Trenton underlying the county, but the 
structural conditions of the strata cannot be determined by direct observ¬ 
ation because the outcrops of the durolith are concealed by the glacial 
drift. Well records and other subsurface data are not of sufficient 
abundance to warrant the mapping of structural conditions. 


















174 



Fig - . 47. A structural map of a portion of Martin County showing 
presence of a terrace. Contours drawn on limestone of Chester series. 

t _ 

MARTIN COUNTY 

Martin County lies within the area of outcrop of strata of Pennsylvanian 
and the Mississippian age. Except for some filled-in valleys, the bed rock 
has been little affected by glacial deposition. The accessibility of the 
strata renders stratagraphical and structural work possible though the 
pronounced unconformity between the rocks of the ages mentioned above 
somewhat adds to the difficulties of correct interpretation. A general 
section of the rocks exposed in this county would include formations 
from the top of the Mitchell to and including a small part of the Alle¬ 


gheny. A generalized section is as follows: 

Shales and sandstones containing coal 

(Coal Measures) . 100 feet. 

Conglomateratic sandstones, iron ore, 

shales and coal (Mansfield). 200 “ 

Shales, sandstones and limestones, 

Chester (Mississippian) . 200 “ 


































































Fig - . 48. Map of Loogootee oil and gas field showing location of oil, gas 
and dry wells, Martin County. Data collected by field party of 1919. 


One of the best datum planes for use in drawing structural contours 
is the contact between the Beech Creek limestone and the Cypress sand¬ 
stone which lies above. The extreme regularity in thickness of the Beech 
Creek, the presence of bold springs below, the massive character of the 
sandstone in connection with its position immediately overlying the lime¬ 
stone render the contact easy of recognition and materially lessens the 
possibility of its being confused with other limestone contacts of frequent 
occurrence in the Chester. 

A structural map of a portion of Martin County has been constructed 
from data collected by the writer, Dr. C. A. Malott and other members of 
the field party of 1919. This map shows the presence of a terrace or 
possibly a low anticline in the area southwest of Dover Hill. Since the 
Loogootee field is so near, this may prove productive territory. 






















































































176 

A deep well was drilled to a depth of 2200 feet southwest of Shoals 
and it is said that a small amount of gas was obtained. 

A well drilled west of Shoals in section 26 reached oil at 1400 feet in 
the Corniferous. A well drilled in White River valley in the eastern part 
of Shoals reached salt water at 960 feet. This well was probably finished 
in the Knobstone. 

Perry Township. A small oil field is located in the southwest part of 
section 19, the northwest part of section 30, and the southeast part of 
section 24. Dry holes were drilled in sections 19, 36, and 1. See map. 

Rutherford Township. Two dry holes were drilled in section 1 on the 
property of Jno. D. Allen and D. E. Elliott. 


MIAMI COUNTY 

The eroded surface of the Silurian and the Devonian strata underlie 
the glacial drift in the county. The drift varies in thickness from a few 
feet to as much as 325 feet. Outcrops of the bed rock occur along the 
bed of Big Pipe Creek between Bunker Hill and the western boundary 
of the county. The rocks of Devonian age consist of limestones. Out¬ 
crops of Silurian rocks occur along the bed of Little Pipe Creek, the 
Wabash and the Mississinewa Rivers. Gas has been found in this county 
at Peru, Bunker Hill, Amboy and Xenia. The surface of the Trenton dips 
northward from Bunker Hill to Peru at the rate of 9 feet per mile. 

The records of wells drilled at these points as given by Gorby and 
others are as follows: 


Xenia Well 2 . 

Soil . 4 feet. 

Gravel . 46 “ 

Water lime. 31 “ 

Niagara . 238 “ 

Hudson River and Utica . 587 “ 

Trenton limestone . 31 “ 


Total depth . 937 feet. 

Altitude of well . 815 “ 

Trenton below sea level . 91 “ 

Record of well drilled at Bunker Hill: 

Section of Well No. 1. 

Drift. 58 feet. 

Corniferous and Niagara limestone. 503 “ 

Hudson River and Utica . 431 “ 

Trenton limestone . 12 “ 


Total depth ......1004 feet. 

Trenton below sea level . 155 “ 

Record of well drilled at Peru: 



















177 


Section of Well No. 4 

Drift. 36 feet. 

Niagara (and Clinton) limestone . 325 “ 

Hudson River and Utica. 454 “ 

Trenton limestone. 30 “ 


Total depth . 905 feet. 

Trenton below sea level . 218 “ 

A small quantity of oil was found at a depth of 808 feet. Salt water 
occurred at 900 feet. This well was drilled in the northern part of the city. 

Section of Well No. 2. 

Drift. 10 feet. 

Water-lime and Niagara limestone. 455 “ 

Clinton (?) limestone . 15 “ 

Hudson River and Utica . 449 “ 

Trenton limestone . 27 “ 


Total depth . 956 feet. 

Trenton below sea level . 229 “ 

Yielded a small quantity of oil and gas, but not sufficient for use. 
This well was bored a little south of the city limits, about l x k miles 
from well No. 1. 

Section of Well No. 3. 

Drift . 70 feet. 

Niagara limestone . 490 “ 

Hudson River and Utica. 400 “ 

Trenton limestone . 42 “ 


Total depth .1002 feet. 

A light flow of gas was obtained from this well. The above well was 
situated on the Younce farm, seven miles southeast of Peru. 

Section of Well No. 4. 

Drift . 324 feet. 

Niagara limestone . 276 

Hudson River and Utica. 407 

Trenton limestone . 35 


Total depth .1042 feet. 

Yielded no gas. 

Record of wells drilled in sections 16 and 28, S. E. % of the N. E. *4 
of section 28: 

Alluvium—river drift . 36 feet. 

Niagara limestone . 385 

Hudson River and Utica. 454 “ 


Top of Trenton. 875 feet. 

Total depth . 905 

Surface above sea level . 657 

Top of Trenton below sea level.218 





































S. W. % of section 16 (27 N. 4E): 

Drift . 324 feet. 

Niagara limestone . 379 “ 

Hudson River and Utica shale. 307 “ 


Top of Trenton.1010 feet. 

Total depth .1041 “ 

Surface above sea level. 757 “ 

Top of Trenton below sea level. 253 “ 

Hospital Hill. 

Drift . 20 feet. 

Niagara limestone . 375 “ 

Hudson River shales and limestone. 255 “ 

Utica shale . 248 “ 

Top of Trenton at. 898 “ 

Total depth . 933 “ 


This well was drilled in October, 1897, and produced 400 barrels of oil 
a day for four days. The production gradually dropped to 300 barrels 
when three weeks old. 

Jackson Township. Record of well drilled at Amboy: 

Section of Well No. 1. 


Drift . 35 feet. 

Niagara limestone and shale. 350 “ 

Hudson River and Utica. 522 “ 

Trenton limestone . 33 “ 


Total depth ... 940 feet. 

Yielded a strong flow of gas. 

The following is a record of wells abandoned in this township: 


Owner 

Date 

Sec. 

T own 

Range 

Wells 

C. C. Hull. 

. 1911 

14 

25 

5E 

1 

E. L. Daniels. 

. 1913 

20 

25 

6E 

1 

Chas. Friemal . 

. 1913 

20 

25 

6E 

1 

E. L. Daniels...... 

.. 1913 

24 

25 

5E 

1 

E. Hooper . 

. 1913 

29 

25 

6E 

1 

E. L. Carter. 

. 1913 

30 

25 

6E 

1 

E. Gross . 

. 1913 

32 

25 

6E 

1 


MONROE COUNTY 

Geology. The eastern portion of the county lies within the area occu¬ 
pied by the Knobstone, the central portion is occupied by the Harrods- 
burg, Salem and Mitchell limestones, the western portion by the Chester 
shales, limestones and sandstones while the highlands in the extreme 
western portion are occupied by the Pottsville. 





























179 



Structure. The Mount Carmel fault crosses the eastern part of the 
county and near Unionville makes a change in direction which makes 
conditions favorable to anticlinal folds. The fault itself with its down¬ 
throw toward the east produces an anticlinal fold extending parallel to 
the fault but not a closed structure except at such places as cross flextures 
are produced. 

Bloomington Well. A deep well was drilled in the courthouse yard in 
1885 to a depth of 2730 feet. A generalized record of the well follows: 


Surface loam . 6 feet. 

Mississippian limestones and shales. 749 “ 

Devonian shales and limestones. 170 

Niagara limestone . 240 

Hudson River limestone. 485 

Utica shale . 180 

Trenton limestone . 626 

Potsdam sandstone . 274 


Total depth .2730 feet. 

Altitude of well. 770 


















































ISO 


\Y 


No oil or gas was found in this well, which was drilled for an artesian 
ater supply. The complete record is given below: 

Earth . 6 feet 

St. Louis limestone, water. 30 “ 

Keokuk limestone . 89 “ 

Knobstone . 630 “ 

Red shale . 20 “ 

Blue limestone . 5 “ 

Brown shale, gas. 10 “ 

Black slate, Devonian. 120 “ 

Gray limestone, Portland cement. 15 “ 

Brown limestone, Niagara. 240 “ 

Shaly limestone . 15 “ 

Light brown limestone. 130 “ 

Flinty limestone . 30 “ 

Light colored limestone. 100 “ 

Brown limestone . 70 “ 

Blue shale . 40 “ 

Blue limestone . 40 “ 

Blue shale, streaks of limestone... 60 “ 

Blue shale . 180 “ 

Grey limestone, some shale. 586 “ 

Blue shale . 40 “ 

Hard, white sandstone. 4 “ 

Shaly limestone and sandstone. 20 “ 

Gray limestone and sandstone. 20 “ 

Shaly limestone, sandstone quartzite. 98 “ 

White and yellow, hard sandstone, iron 22 “ 

White sandstone, softer. 20 “ 

White sandstone, soft. 40 “ 

Gray limestone and sandstone, mixed.... 42 “ 

Gray limestone, sulphur-water increas¬ 
ing rapidly . 8 “ i 

- ; 

Total .2730 feet. * 

Trenton below sea level about.1060 “ 

Well east of Coleman House, west of Thrasher Schoolhouse: 

Oolitic limestone at. 130 feet. 

Soil . 6 “ 

Sandstone and iron ore. 7 “ 

White sandstone . 5 “ 

Iron stone . 5 feet, 6 inches. 

Brown sandstone . 34 “ 

Coal . 6 “ 

Blue sandstone . 22 feet, 6 inches. 

Blue sand .,... 17 “ ' 

Iron stone . 27 

Limestone . 3 “ 

\ - 

4 Total depth .. 133 feet,. 














































181 


Well southeast of Thrasher Schoolhouse: 


Drift . 

Iron stone . 

Shale . 

Iron stone . 

Blue sandstone . 

Kaolin . 

Blue sandstone . 

Coal . 

Blue shale . 

Blue sandstone . 

Iron stone . 

White limestone, water. 

Shale . 

Brown limestone . 

Shale . 

Brown limestone . 

Blue limestone, water. 

Quartz . 

White sandy shale. 

Blue shale . 

Sand . 

Blue shale . 

Bed rock . 

Shale .. 

Limestone .. 

White sandstone . 

Dark shale . 

Iron pyrite . 

Brown shale and iron. 

Black shale, hard. 

White limestone . 

Limestone . 

White gray limestone. 

Brown limestone . 

Gray limestone . 

Brown limestone . 

White limestone . 

Brown and gray limestone 

Gray limestone . 

Black shale . 

Limestone (Niagara) . 

Pure white limestone. 

Black limestone. 

Gray limestone . 

Gray limestone and water.. 
Coarse limestone and gas 
Gray limestone . 


Thickness 

10 feet. 
5% “ 

6 

4% “ 

15 

5 % “ 

22 

4% “ 
26 

19 
22 

140 

60 

45 

5 

20 
130 

20 

100 

360 

25 

127 

7 

18 

7 

6 
35 
10 
33 
30 

24 
9 

85 

25 
10 
25 

16 % “ 
28 
17 
22 
6 
92 

24 

25 
11 

9 

35 


Total Depth 

10 feet. 
15% “ 
21 % “ 

26 

41 

46% - 

68 % “ 

73 

99 

118 

140 

280 

340 

385 

390 

410 

540 

560 

660 

1020 

1045 

1172 

1179 

1197 

1204 

1210 

1245 

1255 

1288 

1318 

1342 

1351 

1436 

1461 

1471 

1496 

1511 

1539 

1556 

1578 

1584 

1676 

1700 

1725 

1736 

1745 

1780 

















































182 


Brown limestone .. 

. 23 

feet 

1803 

Gray limestone .. 

. 10 

a 

1813 

Blue limestone . -. 

.. 37 

a 

1850 

Blue shale ... 

.... 15 

a 

1865 

Blue shale .. 

. 15 

a 

1880 

Blue limestone . 

. 9 

a 

1889 

Blue shale ... 

. 11 

a 

1900 

Shale (Utica) . 

. 50 

a 

1950 

Shale (Utica) .. 

.. 15 

u 

1965 

Black shale. 

. 35 

u 

2000 

Blue and black shale... 

.. 274 

a 

2274 

Trenton limestone . 

. 301 

a 



Total depth . 2575 

Top of Trenton at 2272 feet. 

Oil sand at 2301 feet. Light initial production. 

Altitude at mouth of the well 975 feet. 


foot 


feet. 


There is a dip of thirty-five feet to the mile for the Trenton limestone 


between the deep well at Bloomington and the Koontz well. In the 


former the Trenton is 1060 feet below sea level and in the latter 1300 feet. 


MONTGOMERY COUNTY 

A small area of the bed rock in the western portion of this county is 
occupied by Pennsylvanian strata, but the greater part of the subsurface 
of the county is occupied by the strata of the Mississippian age. The 
covering of the glacial drift in a large measure prevents the determination 
of structural conditions of the strata. The surface of the Trenton lies 
from 1200 to 1600 feet below the surface of the county. The dip of the 
strata is toward the southwest, dipping away from the Cincinnati arch, 
which lies to the north. The surface of the Trenton lies from 400 to 800 
feet below sea level. 


The following is the record of well No. 1 drilled at Crawfordsville 2 : 


Drift . 140 feet. 

Sub-Carboniferous rocks . 410 “ 

Devonian shale . SO “ 

Corniferous limestones . 55 “ 

Niagara limestone . 380 “ 

Hudson River and Utica. 365 “ 

Trenton limestone . 69 “ 


Total depth .1499 feet 

Trenton below sea level. 664 “ 

Yielded no gas. 


Railroad Elevations. 

Linden, 787; Cherry drove, 797.5; Manchester, 753.4; Crawfordsville, 
738.5; Whitesville, 871; Ladoga, 822.5; New Ross, 877; Pawnee, 846; 
Lapland, 840; Penobscot, 859; Waveland, 744; Sand Creek, 582. 




























MORGAN COUNTY 

The glacial mantle covering the bed rock in this county varies from a 
few feet to ninety feet. The Knobstone division of the Mississippian 
underlies the drift over a large part of the county. Outcrops of the 
Knobstone occur, but they are not sufficiently abundant to be of much 
service in locating favorable structural conditions. Even if a sufficient 
number of outcrops could be found the absence of sufficient number of 
persistent hard layers of rock would render the determination of struc¬ 
tural conditions exceedingly difficult. In the presence of favorable con¬ 
ditions, oil and gas sands may be found in the Devonian and the Trenton 
strata. The Trenton will be found below the surface at a depth ranging 
from 1400 to 1600 feet. 

Two wells were drilled south of Hall, in 1916. The first one was drilled 
to a depth of about 860 feet and had a showing of oil in the Corniferous 
limestone. The well was shot, but the shot did not increase the show 
of oil. 

Section of Well No. 1, Martinsville, Ind. 


Drift . 85 feet. 

Sub-Carboniferous rocks . 323 “ 

Hamilton shale . 120 “ 

Corniferous limestone . 62 “ 

Niagara limestone . 236 “ 

Hudson River and Utica. 571 “ 

Trenton limestone . 51 “ 


Total depth .1448 feet. 

Trepton below sea level. 780 

Yielded no gas. 


Jackson Township. A well was drilled on the Donald Stewart property 
in Section 1 in 1911 and another on the Emory Hilderman property in 
Section 36 in 1912. Both were non-productive. 


NEWTON COUNTY 

The subsurface of Newton County is occupied by the strata of tne 
Silurian in the central portion and northern portion of the county and 
by the Devonian strata in the southern portion of the county. The strata 
of the northern portion dip north and those of the southern portion toward 
the south. Slight variations in the uplift of the arch formed has resulted 
in the creation of at least one minor fold favorable to the accumulation 
of oil. This occurs in the boundary between Newton and Lake Counties 
near the town of Thayer. 

The following formations will be encountered in this county between 
the surface of the glacial drift and the surface of the T-ienton. 


Thickness. 

Glacial drift . 100 to 150 feet. 

Devonian (in Southport). 50 “ 145 

Silurian . 280 “ 300 

Hudson River . 3 °0 

Utica .. 210 

















184 


On the north boundary at Thayer the Trenton is encountered at 846 
feet where the surface elevation is 650 feet. At Kentland in the part 
of the county at an elevation of 680 feet the Trenton is encountered at 
1060 feet. The dip of the Trenton surface is more than 57 feet to the 
mile toward the south. 

On account of the covering of glacial drift which attains a thickness 
of more than one hundred feet, the geological structures favorable to the 
accumulation of oil cannot be determined or located by the use of surficial 
methods. The oil which has been found is probably in the Trenton lime¬ 
stone. The following is a log of well No. 2 drilled on the Grant farm west 
of Thayer by the Thayer Oil and Gas Co., Lincoln Township: 


Oil sand . at 615 feet. 

Thickness of gas sand. “ 20 “ 

Salt water at. “ 675 “ 

Trenton rock at. “ 846 “ 

Oil at. “ 850 “ 


Total depth . “ 862 feet. 

This well was plugged in 1919, as was a well on the Rebecca Spitter 
property. 


Well No. 3. 


Drift .. 

Niagara limestone . 

Hudson River limestone 

Utica shale . 

Trenton limestone . 


73 feet 
283 “ 

300 “ 

190 “ 


Total depth . 852 feet. 

Record of well drilled at Kentland: 

Section of Well No. 1. 

Drift . 100 feet. 

Black shale (New Albany). 100 “ 

Corniferous . 45 “ 

Niagara limestone . 305 “ 

Hudson River limestone. 300 “ 

Utica shale . 210 “ 

Trenton limestone . 60 “ 


Total depth .1120 feet. 

Trenton below sea level. 379 “ 

Yielded no gas. 


NOBLE COUNTY 

Noble County probably lies wholly within the area occupied by the 
Devonian strata, though its bed rock is concealed by a heavy mantle of 
glacial drift. A well record at Albion shows a thickness of 375 feet and at 
Kendallville of 485 feet of drift. The well at Kendallville reached the 
Trenton at 1920 feet. 


























A well drilled at Albion furnished the following log 1 : 

Section of Well No. 1. 

Drift . 375 feet. 


Devonian shale . 

Devonian limestone . 

Sandstone . 

Hydraulic limestone . 

Niagara and Clinton (?) limestone and 

shale . 

Hudson River limestone and shale. 

Utica shale . 

Trenton limestone . 


65 

65 

5 

30 

815 

285 

250 

24 


<< 

a 

a 

a 

a 

n 

u 

a 


Total depth .1914 feet. 

Trenton below sea level.1161 “ 


Yielded small flow of gas. 

The surface of the Trenton dips northward through this county at the 
rate of from thirty-five to thirty-eight feet to the mile. If there are 
structures developed in these northward dipping strata they are not 
visible at the surface because of the thick over-burden of drift, which 
prevents the detection of reverse dips. 

Railroad Elevations. 

LaOtto, 872.9; Swan, 872; Avilla, 962.9; Kendallville, 974.7; Rome City, 
920.3; Grismore, 868.2; Ligonier, 893.8; Wawaka, 952.1. 














18G 

OHIO COUNTY 

Tlie Cincinnatian Division of the Ordovician including the Eden, (Utica) 
Maysville, (Lorraine) and Richmond from the strata underlying the Pleis¬ 
tocene and Recent deposits of this county. The Pleistocene deposits 
vary in thickness from a few to fifty feet. The Ordovician sediments that 
are revealed consist of a series of shales and limestones. The Trenton 
limestone lies below these formations. The number and abundance of 
out-crops will probably make it possible to determine the structural con¬ 
ditions existing in this county, but careful detailed work will be required. 
The table below gives the sub-divisions which are represented in the 
county. 


Quaternary 


Ordovician 


| Recent, clays and alluvium 
|Pleistocene, gravels, sands and till 


< Cincinnati 


Richmond 


.< Maysville 


Eden 


Trenton 


'Elkhorn 

Whitewater 

Saluda 

Waynesville 

Arnheim 

'Mt. Auburn 
Corryville 
Bellevue 
Fairmont 
Mt. Hope 

'McMicken 

Southgate 

Economy 

Fulton 


ORANGE COUNTY 

This county lies within the unglaciated area and the structural con¬ 
ditions of the rocks may be determined for the greater part of the county 
by surficial observations. The eastern part of the county contains the 
Salem and the Mitchell limestones of the Mississippian. The western 
part of the county contains the shales, sandstones and the limestones 
of the Chester division of the Mississippian and the conglomeratic sand¬ 
stones of the Pottsville division of the Pennsylvanian. Where the geo¬ 
logic conditions are favorable there is a probability of the accumulation 
ot oil and gas in the Devonian strata (Corniferous limestone) which may 
be reached in the western part of the county at a depth of from 1100 to 
1400 feet. There is also a probability of oil and gas accumulating under 
such structures in the Trenton though the Trenton limestone may lack 
porosity due to the lack of dolomitization. 






























































































































































































































1ST 



ditions near Orangeville. Contour lines drawn on Chester limestone. 
Data secured by C. A. Malott and P. B. Stockdale of field party of 1919. 

A general geological section in this county would include: 


Reddish conglomeratic sandstone with iron ore (Pottsville). 200 feet. 

Fine grained massive sandstone (Tar Springs, Chester). 45 

Limestone, gray (glendeane). 10 

Sandstone and sandy shales (Hardinsburg, Chester). 50 

Limestone, thin bedded (Colconda). 16 

Sandstone, massive (passing to shale, Cypress). 35 

Limestone, massive (Beech Creek). 12 

Shales and sandstones (Elwren). 32 

Limestone, pyritiprous, reddish (Reelsville). 4 

Sandstone and shales (Brandy Run). 13 

Limestone, massive ledges (Beaver Bend), Top of Mitchell. 10 

Limestone (Mitchell, Salem, Harrodsburg). 400 


Two wells were drilled at Paoli, one to a depth of 1,000 feet, the other 
to a depth of 1,130 feet. In the first mineral water was found at 250 feet 
and in a blue shale at 1,000 feet. The bottom of this well is probably in 





























































































1SS 


the Silurian shale. Its altitude is about 580 feet. The second well encoun¬ 
tered mineral water in a limestone at 1,130 feet and probably was com¬ 
pleted in the Silurian limestone. These wells were drilled for oil or gas 
and were drilled without reference to structure. By consulting the struc¬ 
ture map accompanying this report it will be evident that no favorable 
structure is present. A well drilled in Section 8 southwest of Paoli 
reached a depth of over 1200 feet before being abandoned. This well was 
drilled on a slight shoulder or terrace as will be seen by consulting the 
structure map. The field work necessary to the preparation of this map 
was done by Dr. C. A. Malott and Mr. P. B. Stockdale. 


OWEN COUNTY 

The geological formations represented by the outcrops in this county 
are found in the following section: 


Quaternary.. 


'Recent—River alluvium. 

Pleistocene—Glacial gravels, sands and clays. 


j 

Pennsylvanian 


'Coal measures—coal beds, sandstones, shales 
and limestones. 

" Mansfield (Pottsville) sandstone shales and 
coal. 


Mississippian 


'Chester, shales, limestones, and sandstones. 
Mitchell, limestones and shales. 

< Salem, limestone. 

Warsaw, limestone. 

Knobstone, shales and sandstones. 


The Pleistocene deposits mantle the surface in all places except along 
the courses of streams, where it has been removed by postglacial erosion. 
The number of outcrops may be sufficient in some places in the county to 
enable the structures of the bed rock to be determined. 

Washington Township. Three wells were drilled in Spencer to the 
Niagara limestone from which a supply of sulphur-saline water was 
obtained. A well was also drilled south of Spencer and a showing of oil 
obtained at a depth of 800 feet. This well was drilled deeper, but did 
not strike production. 

A well was drilled on the Tanner property in Section 20 west of Spencer 
in 1913. No record of this well has been obtained. 










PARKE COUNTY 

The strata of the Pennsylvanian period underlie the glacial drift in 

Parke County. Outcrops of the bed rock occur along the beds of some of 

* 

the streams, but the structural condition cannot be determined from sur- 
licial ooservations. 

The Trenton limestone lies from 2000 to 2500 feet below the surface in 
this county. The following is the record of a well drilled at Rockville. 

Section of Well No. 1. 


Drift . 96 feet. 

Gray sandstones . 44 “ 

Brown shale . 25 “ 

White sandstones . 110 “ 

Black shale . 25 “ 

Black shale . 105 “ 

White sandstone . 50 “ 

Limestone . 170 “ 

Gray shale . 305 “ 

Sandstone . 100 “ 

White shale . 114 “ 

Black shale . 102 “ 

Limestone . 118 “ 

Brown sandstones . 46 “ 

White limestones . 135 “ 

Crystallized limestone . 85 “ 

White shale, like kaolin. 48 “ 

Limestone . 108 “ 

Dark shale (Utica). 324 “ 


Total depth to Trenton.2100 feet. 

Altitude of well. 688 “ 

Trenton below sea level.1412 “ 

Yielded no gas. 


In 1908 a bore was sunk to a depth of 1200 feet near Diamond, in Parke 
County but was dry. 

Where structural conditions are favorable oil may be found in the 
Devonian in this county. 


PERRY COUNTY 

As Perry County occupies a part of the unglaciated area of Indiana the 
outcrop of its strata is unconcealed. The formations of the county belong 

to the following divisions: 

(Recent—alluvium and residuals 

Quaternary./ Pleistocene—residuals 

(Allegheny—shales, sandstones, limestones, coals 

Pennsylvanian.|Pottsville—shales, sandstones and coal 

Mississippian. Chester—limestones, sandstones and shales 

No structural map of this county has been attempted, but it seems pos¬ 
sible to determine the structural conditions for a large part of the county 






























by using the limestones of the Chester as key formations. 

Some oil was found in two wells in section 19 near Uniontown, also in 
sections 24 and 26. The records of these wells are given below: 

Wells drilled in Clark Township east of Siberia, near Anderson River 
six miles south of Birdseye. 


Well in Southwest <4 of Section 24. 

Drive pipe . 40 feet. 

Casing . 595 “ 

Top of pay.1010 “ 

Total depth .A..1030 “ 

Well in Southeast >4 °f Section 26 (3S. 3W.) 

Drive pipe .A. 10 feet. 

Casing . 725 “ 

Total depth .1280 “ 

The above well came in as a salt water without a showing of oil. 
Northeast J4 °f the Southwest |4 of Section 19. 

Drive pipe . 60 feet. 

Casing . 600 “ 

Total depth .1040 “ 

Better producer than No. 1. 


Record of Deep Well at Cannelton. 

Thickness Depth 


Feet Feet 

Sand . 47 47 

Shale . 110 157 

White sand . 63 220 

Shale . 9 229 

Limestone . 41 270 

Shale . 5 275 

Hard limestone, white. 55 330 

Shale . 16 346 

Limestone . 6 352 

White sand . 5 357 

Shale . 3 360 

Sand . 13 373 

Shale . 23 396 

Black limestone . 10 406 

Grey shale . 30 436 

White limestone . 9 445 

Grey shale . 15 460 

White shale salt water at 480.51 511 

Shale . 7 518 

White limestone salt water at 733.. 218 736 

Limestone salt water at 774. 204 940 

Dark sandy shale. 87 1027 

Dark brown limestone. 81 1108 

Limestone . 572 1780 

Shale (Utica) . 120 1900 

Limestone (Trenton) . 633 2533 





































191 

Tell City Well Record. 


T 


Soil . 

Grey shale . 

White sand . 

Brown sand . 

White limestone . 

Dark grey shale. 

Shally lime . 

Limestone . 

Greenville shale . 

Limestone . 

Grey sand . 

Grey limestone and shale 

Sand . 

Varigated shales . 

Limestone . 

Grey shale . 

Grey sand .. 

Liemstone and shale. 

Limestone . 

Brown shale . 

Grey sand . 

Brown shale . 

Sand stone .•.. 

No record .. 

Grey limestone . 

Light limestone . 


25 

25 

10 

35 

40 

75 

SO 

155 

30 

185 

30 

215 

10 

225 

5 

230 

45 

275 

71 

340 

6 

352 

43 

395 

15 

410 

110 

520 

33 

559 

30 

595 

20 

015 

o 

o 

01S 

17 

iO 

CO 

o 

13 

G4S 

27 

075 

5 

080 

02 

742 

10 

752 

10S 

920 

245 

11G5 


PIKE COUNTY 

The strata of Pike County belong to the coal measures with the excep¬ 
tion of a mantle of glacial drift in the northern portion, of glacial lake 
deposits in the central portion and recent residuals covering the southern 
portion and overlying the coal measures. As many as eight distinct veins 
of coal occur in the county. Three or four of these are workable over 
considerable area. For the determination of structural conditions it is 
possible that some use may be made of the Coal Measures. Oil fields 
have been developed northeast of Petersburg, southwest and southeast, 
in Washington Township, Madison, Monroe, Patoka and Logan Townships. 
Some of the structures in this county were outlined on the Petersburg 
coal and published in the Ditney folio 1 . 

Madison Township. Oil sands range in depth from 9(10 to 1340. Five 
sands are reported. 


’See Ditney Folio, U. S. G. S. 





























102 



Pig - . 52. Map of portion of Pike County showing outline of structure at 
Petersburg. Contour lines drawn on Coal V by C. A. Malott and 
P. B. Stockdale, field party 1919. 


Well No. 3, D. & R. Snyder farm. 

Soil . 

Mud . 

Quick sand . 

White sand . 

Slate . 

Coal . 

Slate .:...;. 

Sand ... 

Slate ... 

Shale . 

Lime . 

Coal . 

Sand . 

Blue sand . 

Dark lime . 

Slate . 


Section 35, Madison Twp.: 

. to 5 feet. 

. 45 “ 

. 55 “ 

. 95 “ 

100 “ 

. 105 “ 

. 165 “ 

. 175 “ 

. 375 “ 

. 391 “ 

. 420 “ 

. 423 “ 

. 433 “ 

. 453 “ 

. 463 “ 

. 523 “ 



















































































19 


o 

o 



Fig-. 53. Map of the Union oil field showing oil and gas wells and dry 
holes. Data collected by C. A. Malott and P. B. Stockdale of field 
party of 1919. 


Lime . 

Shale .. 

Sand . 

Water sand 

Slate . 

Lime . 

Slate . 

Sharp sand 
Gray slate 

Lime . 

Slate . 

Sand . 

Shale . 

Water sand 

Slate . 

Little lime 


to 540 feet 
690 “ 

710 “ 

800 “ 
845 “ 

850 “ 

870 “ 

935 “ 

945 “ 

960 “ 

1005 “ 

1015 “ 

1035 “ 

1140 “ 

1145, “ 
1163 “ 
































































Fig-. 54. Map of the Bowman oil field in Pike County, showing- location 
of oil wells, dry holes and gas wells. Data secured by C. A. Malott 
and P. B. Stockdale, field party of 1919. 


Slate . 

Dark lime .. 

Shale ... 

Lime . 

Slate . 

Dark sand . 

Big lime . 

Slate . 

Sand . 

Shale . 

Gas sand .... 

Slate . 

Snyder sand 
Slate . 


to 1193 fot t 
1200 “ 
1205 “ 

1215 “ 

1245 “ 

1253 “ 

1275 “ 

1285 “ 

1295 “ 

1300 “ 

1303 “ 

1304 “ 

1313 “ 

1323 “ 







































































195 



Fig-. 55. Map of the Glenzen terrace in Pike County. Structure lines 
drawn on Coal V. Data secured by C. A. Malott and P. B. Stockdale, 
field party of 1919. 


Brown shell 

Slate . 

Dark sand .. 
Brown sand 


to 1330 feet 
1341 “ 

1347 “ 

1348 “ 


Total depth . 

Casing Record. 

12V 2 in. 

10 in. 

9t4 in. 

6Y 2 in. 

Well No. 5, L. Johnson Farm. Madison Twp. 

Clay . 

Slate . 

Coal . 


1348 feet. 

... 71 feet. 

... 392 “ 

... 945 “ 

... 1210 “ 

Pike Co., Oct. 6, 1919: 

. 61 feet. 

. 79 “ 

1 


i < 





































































































196 



Fig-. 56. Map of structural conditions near Winslow. Contours drawn 
on Coal V. Data secured by C. A. Malott and P. B. Stockdale of the 
field party of 1919. 


Slate . 

Lime . 

Slate . 

Sand . 

Slate . 

Oil sand .... 

Lime . 

Slate . 

Water sand 

Lime . 

Slate . 

Sand . 

Slate . 

Big lime .... 

Slate . 

Oil sand . 


319 feet 
6 “ 
414 “ 

55 “ 

75 “ 

15 “ 

7 “ 

38 “ 

110 “ 

8 “ 

7 “ 

35 “ 

35 “ 

27 “ 

29 “ 

24 “ 


Total depth 


1346 feet. 
































































Well No. 5, M. E. Sutton farm, Madison Township, Pike County 


Surface . to 

Quick sand . “ 

Shale . “ 

Coal . “ 

Shale . “ 

Lime . “ 

Shale . “ 

Lime . “ 

Shale . “ 

Lime . “ 

Shale . “ 

Sand . “ 

Shale . “ 

Lime . “ 

Shale . “ 

Sand . “ 

Shale . “ 

Lime . “ 

Shale . “ 

Sand . “ 

Shale . “ 

Lime . “ 

Sand oil . “ 


1 foot. 
16 feet. 
30 “ 

55 “ 

58 “ 

95 “ 

115 “ 

125 “ 

130 “ 

180 “ 
200 “ 
285 “ 

315 “ 

420 “ 

428 “ 

580 “ 

600 “ 
720 “ 

725 “ 

800 “ 
885 “ 

925 “ 

942 “ 


Total depth 


963 feet. 


Record of Dan Snyder No. 2, Section 36, Madison Township: 

1214" casing . 92 feet. 

10" casing . 210 “ 

SM" casing . 915 “ 

6&" casing .1240 “ 

4 7 /s" liner . 80 “ 

Soil . 35 feet. 

Quick sand . 35 “ to 45 feet 

Blue mud . 45 “ “ 95 

Lime shell . 95 “ “ 130 

Blue mud . 130 “ “ 155 

Brown shale . 155 “ “ 200 

Coal . 200 “ “ 205 ” 

Gray mud . 205 “ “ 230 

White mud . 230 “ “ 265 

Lime .-. 265 “ “ 295 " 

Sand . 295 “ “ 340 ” 

Blue mud . 340 “ “ 370 

White mud . 370 “ “ 435 

Lime . 435 “ “ 440 “ 

Blue mud . 440 “ “ 490 

Lime . 490 “ “ 500 

Gray mud . 500 “ “ 535 

















































198 


Shale ... 

. 535 

feet 

to 

585 

feet 

Brown mud ... 

. 585 

if 

if 

640 

if 

Water sand . 

.. 640 

if 

if 

660 

ti 

Slate and shale. 

. 660 

if 

if 

720 

a 

Light shale . 

. 720 

a 

it 

780 

a 

Slate ... 

. 780 

if 

it 

850 

a 

Shale . 

. 850 

a 

if 

875 

a 

Water sand . 

. 875 

a 

it 

910 

a 

Brown mud . 

. 910 

a 

if 

930 

it 

Slate . 

. 930 

a 

a 

994 

a 

Rumble sand . 

. 994 

a 

a 

1011 

a 

Slate . 

..1011 

a 

if 

1016 

a 

Brown mud . 

.1016 

a 

if 

1025 

a 

Sand . 

.1025 

a 

if 

1060 

a 

Sandy shale . 

....1060 

a 

if 

1095 

a 

Water sand . 

.1095 

a 

a 

1125 

a 

Slate . 

.1125 

a 

a 

1135 

a 

Shale . 

.1135 

a 

a 

1158 

a 

Gray mud . 

.1158 

a 

a 

1170 

a 

Lime . 

.1170 

a 

a 

1190 

a 

White mud . 

.1190 

a 

a 

1195 

a 

Hard lime . 

.1195 

a 

a 

1210 

a 

Blue mud .. 

.1210 

a 

a 

1234 

a 

Big lime . 

.1234 

a 

a 

1249 

a 

Slate . 

.1249 

a 

a 

1264 

a 

Red rock . 

.1264 

a 

a 

1273 

a 

Shale ... 

..1273 

a 

a 

1283 

a 

Snyder sand . 

.1283 

a 

a 

1302 

a 

Total depth . 




1302 

a 


Central Refining Co. 

Well No. 9. Section 35, Madison Twp.: 


Clay . 

Sand . 

Brown shale . 

Coal . 

. to 

a 

a 

a 

18 

70 

75 

77 

feet. 

a 

a 

a 

Brown shale . 

a 

135 

a 

Lime . 

a 

148 

a 

Gray slate .. 

a 

160 

a 

Lime . 

a 

165 

a 

Gray slate . 

a 

180 

a 

Brown slate . 

a 

205 

a 

Coal .. 

a 

208 

ft 

Lime .... 

a 

211 

a 

Brown slate .. 

a 

215 

n 

Lime . 

a 

222 

a 

Gray slate . 

a 

250 

a 

Brown slate . 

a 

260 

if 

Lime . 

a 

288 

a 


No oil 























































199 


Brown slate 
Gray slate ... 
Brown slate 
Gray slate ... 
Brown slate 

Sand . 

Brown slate 

Lime . 

Brown slate 
Gray slate .. 
Brown slate 

Lime . 

Coal . 

Gray slate .. 

Lime . 

Brown slate 
Gray slate .. 
Brown slate 
Gray slate .. 

Sand . 

Brown slate 
Gray slate .. 

Sand . 

Brown slate 
Gray slate .. 
Brown slate 

Sand . 

Brown slate 

Sand . 

Gray slate .. 

Lime . 

Gray slate .. 

Lime . 

Gray slate .. 

Sand . 

Gray slate .. 

Sand . 

Little lime .. 
Gray slate .. 

Lime . 

Gray slate .. 

Lime . 

Gray slate .. 

Big lime . 

Gray slate .. 

Lime . 

Gray slate .. 

Lime . 

Brown slate 
Red rock .... 


to 290 feet 
“ 310 “ 

“ 350 “ 

“ 390 “ 

“ 430 “ 

“ 438 “ 

“ 440 “ 

“ 443 “ 

“ 450 “ 

“ 490 “ 

“ 488 “ 

“ 500 “ 

“ 503 “ 

“ 515 “ 

“ 522 “ 

“ 560 “ 

“ 600 “ 

“ 650 “ 

“ 690 “ 

“ 696 “ 

“ 715 “ 

“ 755 “ 

“ 760 “ 

“ 800 “ 

“ 830 “ 

“ 858 “ 

“ 872 “ 

“ 880 
“ 940 “ 

“ 946 “ 

“ 950 “ 

“ 955 “ 

“ 965 “ 

“ 1050 “ 

“ 1060 “ 

“ 1080 “ 

“ 1160 “ 

“ 1172 “ 

“ 1200 “ 

“ 1210 “ 

“ 1220 “ 

“ 1225 “ 

“ 1230 “ 

“ 1238 “ 

“ 1250 “ 

“ 1258 “ 

“ 1261 “ 

“ 1265 “ 

“ 1275 “ 

“ 1277 “ 





















































Wells 


Brown slate 

Sand . 

Brown shell 

Slate . 

Lime . 

Slate . 

Gray sand .. 
Brown sand 
Total depth 


to 1313 feet 
" 1319 " 

“ 1325 " 

“ 1326 “ 

“ 1328 “ 

“ 1340 “ 

“ 1345 “ 

“ 1348 “ 
1348 feet. 


Casing Record. 

12i/ 2 in. 70 feet. 

10 in. 442 “ 

814 in. 948 “ 

614 in.1231 “ 

abandoned in this township are located in Section 1, 1 


well; 


Section 2, 2 wells; Section 6, 2 wells; Section 25, 1 well; Section 35, 


2 wells; Section 36, 2 wells. 


Log of M. F. Snyder Well. 

Yellow clay . 

Gray slate . 

Sand . 

Gray slate . 

Sand . 

Gray slate . 

Coal . 

Lime . 

Gray slate . 

Brown slate . 

Lime . 

Gray slate . 

Sand . 

Brown slate .... 

Sand . 

Gray slate . 

Sand . 

Brown slate .... 

Coal . 

Lime . 

Coal . 

Gray slate . 

Lime . 

Sand . 

Brown slate .... 

Gray slate . 

Sand . 

Gray slate . 

Brown slate .... 

Lime . 

Gray slate . 


Located in Section 2, Madison Twp.: 

.to 10 feet. 

. 30 “ 

. 47 “ 

. 85 “ 

. 93 “ 

. 95 “ 

. 97 “ 

. 103 “ 

. 135 “ 

. 150 “ 

. 165 “ 

... 170 “ 

. 180 “ 

.. 185 “ 

. 210 “ 

. 240 “ 

. 265 “ 

. 268 “ 

. 272 “ 

. 277 “ 

. 280 “ 

. 295 “ 

. 310 “ 

. 362 “ 

. 372 “ 

. 380 “ 

. 384 “ 

. 405 “ 

. 407 “ 

. 442 “ 

. 460 “ 














































201 


Brown slate 

Coal . 

Gray slate .. 

Lime . 

Brown slate 

Lime . 

Gray slate .. 
Brown slate 

Coal . 

Brown slate 

Lime . 

Brown slate 
Gray slate .. 
Brown slate 

Sand . 

Sand . 

Brown slate 
Gray slate .. 
Brown slate 

Sand . 

Brown slate 

Sand . 

Gray slate .. 

Sand . 

Coal . 

Gray slate .. 

Sand . 

Sand . 

Gray slate .. 

Lime . 

Gray slate .. 

Lime . 

Brown slate 

Sand . 

Gray slate .. 

Lime . 

Gray slate .. 

Sand . 

Lime . 

Gray slate .. 

Sand . 

Gray slate .. 

Lime . 

Gray slate .. 

Lime . 

Brown slate 
Red rock .... 
Gray slate ... 
Sand . 


to 463 fcM t 


467 “ 

483 “ 

485 “ 

495 “ 

513 “ 

525 “ 

528 “ 

530 “ 

558 “ 

560 “ 

580 “ 

590 “ 

625 “ 

635 “ 

675 “ 

700 “ 

735 “ 

790 “ 

820 “ 
832 “ 

838 “ 

842 “ 

869 “ 

872 “ 

875 “ 

930 “ 

965 “ 

994 “ 

997 “ 

1010 “ 
1033 “ 

1055 “ 

1078 “ 

1160 “ 
1178 “ 

1188 “ 
1192 “ 

1212 “ 
1217 “ 

1232 “ 

1237 “ 

1245 “ 

1260 “ 
1270 “ 

1280 “ 
1283 “ 

1298 “ 

1307 “ 



















































202 


Gray slate . 

Sand . 

Brown lime . 

Gray slate . 

Sand . 

Oil sand . 

Total depth 


to 1312 feet 
1327 “ 

1335 “ 

1340 “ 

1345 “ 

1347 “ 

1347 feet 


Estate of Michael Murphy (deceased) Oil Co. Well No. 5, S. T. Rumble 
farm, Madison Twp. Finished July 7, 1919. Dry. 


Lime shell . 

. 80 

to 85 

feet. 


Coal . 

. 85 

a 

88 

a 


Sandy lime . 

. 88 

a 

110 

a 


Slate . 

. 110 

a 

130 

a 


Lime ... 

. 130 

a 

145 

a 


Coal ... 

. 145 

a 

150 

a 

Water 

White slate . 

...... 150 

a 

210 

a 


Sandy lime . 

. 210 

a 

325 

a 

Water, 2 bbls. 

Dark slate . 

. 325 

a 

420 

a 

per hour 

Lime . 

. 420 

a 

425 

a 


White slate . 

. 425 

ft 

460 

a 


Lime . 

. 460 

a 

470 

a 


Broken lime .. 

. 470 

a 

550 

a 


White slate . 

. 550 

a 

625 

a 


Dark slate . 

. 625 

a 

715 

a 


Sand . 

. 715 

a 

750 

a 

More water 

Slate . 

. 750 

a 

840 

a 


Sandy lime . 

. 840 

a 

920 

a 


Water sand . 

. 920 

ti 

940 

a 

Salt water 

Dark slate . 

. 940 

a 

1050 

a 


Lime cave . i . 

.1050 

a 

1075 

a 


Water sand . 

.1075 

a 

1110 

a 


Lime . 

.1110 

a 

1130 

a 


Dark slate . 

.1130 

a 

1160 

a 


Sand . 

.1160 

a 

1180 

a 


Little lime . 

.1180 

a 

1200 

a 


Slate . 

.1200 

a 

1220 

a 


Lime and sand. 

.1220 

a 

1250 

a 


Dark slate . 

.1250 

a 

1270 

a 


Big lime . 

.1270 

a 

1292 

a 


Slate . 

.1292 

a 

1302 

a 


Red rock . 

.1302 

a 

1310 

a 


Slate . 

.1310 

a 

1322 

a 


Oil sand . 

.1322 

if 

1332 

a 

Dry—Snyder 
sand 

Lime . 

.1332 

a 

1345 

a 

Oakland City 
Sand 

Sand and lime. 

.1345 

a 

1384 

a 

Water—brown 













































Casing Record. 


12 y 2 in. 
10 

8% “ 
8% “ 


21 feet. 
150 “ 

840 “ 
1265 - 


In Madison Township a well on the Thomas farm, Section 30, pumped 5u 
barrels from a depth of 1280 feet. The Bement Oil and Gas Co.’s No. 1 


well on the L. C. Thomas farm, in the S. W. Vi of the S. W. V4 of section 
32, is estimated at 50 to 100 barrels. The depth is 1170 feet. 


Log of M. F. Snyder well No. 9, located in section 35, Madison Twp.: 


Yellow clay . 

Sand . 

Brown slate . 

Coal . 

Brown slate . 

Lime . 

Gray slate . 

Lime . 

Gray slate . 

Brown slate . 

Coal . 

Lime . 

Brown slate . 

Lime . 

Gray slate . 

Brown slate . 

Lime . 

Brown slate . 

Gray slate . 

Brown slate . 

Gray slate . 

Brown slate . 

Sand . 

Brown slate . 

Lime . 

Brown slate . 

Gray slate .<. 

Brown slate . 

Lime . 

Coal . 

Gray slate . 

Lime . 

Brown slate . 

Gray slate . 

Brown slate . 

Gray slate . 

Sand . 

Brown slate . 

Gray slate . 


to 

18 

feet, 

ii 

70 

a 

ii 

75 

a 

a 

77 

it 

a 

135 

M 

a 

148 

«« 

a 

160 

II 

a 

165 

it 

a 

180 

#« 

a 

205 

#« 

a 

208 

et 

a 

211 

i« 

a 

215 

M 

a 

222 

it 

a 

250 

it 

a 

285 

it 

a 

288 

a 

a 

290 

it 

a 

310 

a 

a 

350 

it 

a 

390 

a 

a 

430 

a 

if 

438 

a 

u 

440 

it 

a 

443 

a 

a 

450 

a 

tt 

490 

tt 

a 

498 

tt 

a 

500 

a 

a 

503 

a 

tt 

515 

a 

a 

522 

tt 

n 

560 

a 

a 

600 

tt 

a 

650 

tt 

a 

690 

tt 

a 

696 

tt 

a 

715 

a 

tt 

755 

tt 













































Sand . 

Brown slate . 

Gray slate . 

Sand . 

Brown slate . 

Sand . 

Brown slate . 

Sand . 

Gray slate . 

Lime . 

Gray slate . 

Lime . 

Gray slate . 

Sand . 

Gray slate . 

Sand . 

Lime . 

Gray slate . 

Lime . 

Gray slate . 

Lime . 

Gray slate . 

Lime . 

Gray slate . 

Lime . 

Gray slate . 

Black slate ... 

Red rock . 

Black slate . 

Gas sand . 

Brown shell .. 

Black slate . 

Black lime . 

Sand . 

Total depth . 

Casing Record. 

121/2 in. 

10 “ .. 

8 “ . 


4% “ 


to 760 feet 
“ 800 “ 
“ 820 “ 

“ 830 “ 

“ 858 “ 

“ 872 “ 

“ 880 “ 

“ 940 “ 

“ 948 “ 

“ 950 “ 

“ 955 “ 

“ 965 “ 

“ 1050 “ 

“ 1060 “ 

“ 1080 “ 

“ 1160 “ 

“ 1172 “ 

“ 1200 “ 

“ 1210 “ 

“ 1220 “ 

“ 1225 “ 

“ 1230 “ 

“ 1238 “ 

“ 1258 “ 

“ 1261 “ 

“ 1265 “ 

“ 1275 “ 

“ 1277 “ 

“ 1313 “ 

“ 1319 “ 

“ 1325 “ 

“ 1340 “ 

“ 1342 “ 

“ 1348 “ 

“ 1348 “ 


70 feet 
442 “ 

948 “ 

1231 “ 

1325 “ 


Well No. 1 on the F. P. Robling farm, 200 feet to South line, 200 feel 
to West line, Section 35, Madison Twp., Pike County: 

Soil .to 1 feet. 


Clay . 

White sand 
Blue slate 
White lime 
Blue slate 


“ 11 “ 
“ 51 “ 

“ 90 “ 

“ 100 “ 
“ 140 


<< 

















































f 

r 

r 


Black slate . 

Gray slate . 

White sand . 

Coal . 

Fire clay . 

Gray shale . 

White sand . 

Gray shale . 

White sand . 

Black slate . 

White sand . 

White shale . 

White lime .. 

Black shale . 

Light slate . 

Coal . 

Light slate . 

Dark slate . 

Coal . 

Light slate . 

Light sand . 

Dark slate . 

Brown lime . 

Light sand (gas). 

Dark slate . 

Gray sand . 

Gray slate . 

White sand . 

Dark lime . 

Dark slate . 

White shale . 

Brown sand (oil). 

Gray sand . 

Brown sand (best pay) 

Dark slate . 

Gray sand . 

Light sand . 

Light sand . 

Dark lime . 

Blue mud . 

Dark sand . 

Dark lime . 

? White sand . 

Brown lime . 

Red rock . 

4 Dark sand . 

Dark slate . 

I White lime . 

I Dark slate 


to 

170 

l’eet 

a 

190 

a 

a 

200 

a 

ii 

202 

ii 

it 

210 

a 

a 

255 

a 

ii 

325 

a 

ii 

330 

a 

ii 

355 

a 

it 

375 

a 

ii 

390 

a 

{{ 

395 

a 

it 

430 

a 

ii 

450 

a 

it 

515 

a 

ii 

518 

a 

ii 

563 

a 

it 

598 

a 

ii 

600 

a 

it 

645 

a 

ii 

655 

a 

it 

660 

a 

ii 

665 

a 

ii 

675 

a 

i i 

780 

a 

ii 

797 

a 

ii 

815 

a 

ii 

890 

a 

ii 

897 

a 

a 

960 

a 

ii 

962 

a 

a 

967 

a 

a 

977 

it 

a 

992 

a 

a 

1006 

a 

a 

1022 

a 

a 

1028 

a 

ii 

1119 

a 

a 

1131 

a 

a 

1134 

a 

a 

1147 

a 

a 

1152 

a 

a 

1167 

a 

a 

1176 

a 

tt 

1179 

it 

a 

1191 

a 

a 

1197 

tt 

a 

1233 

11 

a 

1270 

a 





















































206 


Dark sand (show of oil).to 1285 fret 

Dark sand . “ 1292 “ 

Dark lime . “ 1294 “ 

Light lime . “ 1297 “ 

Black slate . “ 1302 “ 

Light sand . “ 1304 “ 

Dark slate . “ 1313 “ 

Dark lime . “ 1316 “ 

Gray sand . “ 1322 “ 

Top of pay . “ 1316 “ 


Well No. 2, on the F. P. Robling farm, 333 feet to West line; 200 feet 
to North line, Section 35, Madison Twp., Pike County: 



Black soil 


to 1 feet. 


Yellow clay . 

Brown mud . 

Coal . 

Gray lime . 

Blue mud . 

Gray shale . 

Blue mud . 

Gray lime . 

White mud . 

Brown shale . 

White shale . 

White lime . 

Brown mud . 

Gray lime . 

White mud . 

White lime . 

Gray mud . 

Brown shale . 

Gray lime shell. 

White mud .. 

Brown shale . 

White sandy shell 

Gray slate . 

Brown shale . 

Blue shale . 

White sand . 

Blue slate . 

White sand . 

Gray lime . 

Gray sand . 

Black slate . 

Gray lime. 

Dark slate . 

Light slate . 

Gray sand . 

Dark slate . 


“ 6 “ 
“ 100 “ 
“ 104 “ 

“ 109 “ 

“ 129 “ 

“ 189 “ 

“ 204 “ 

“ 208 “ 
“ 253 “ 

“ 353 “ 

“ 403 “ 

“ 445 “ 

“ 545 “ 

“ 550 “ 

“ 640 “ 

“ 648 “ 

“ 678 “ 

“ 703 “ 

“ 710 “ 

“ 735 “ 

“ 755 “ 

“ 760 “ 

“ 810 “ 
“ 885 “ 

“ 893 “ 

“ 903 “ 

“ 909 “ 

“ 926 “ 

“ 928 “ 

“ 943 “ 

“ 950 “ 

“ 952 “ 

“ 1003 “ 

“ 1021 “ 
“ 1029 " 

“ 1035 “ 


Sand dry. 

















































207 


Gray lime . to 1039 tect 

Same . “ 1054 “ 

Dark lime . “ 1059 “ 

White sand . “ 1149 “ 

Gray lime . “ H64 “ 

Blue slate . “ H69 “ 

Gray lime . “ 1177 “ 

Blue slate . “ H81 “ 

Gray lime . “ H85 “ 

Blue slate . “ 1190 “ 

Gray lime . “ 1202 “ 

Blue slate . “ 1208 “ 

Gray lime . “ 1220 “ 

Blue slate . “ 1237 “ 

White lime, top of big lime. “ 1240 “ 

Dark lime . “ 1245 “ 

White lime . “ 1250 “ 

Dark gray lime. “ 1275 “ 

Red rock . “ 1280 “ 

Dark slate . “ 1292 “ 

Gray lime . “ 1302 “ 

Dark lime . “ 1317 “ 

Black lime . “ 1323 “ 

Brown shell . “ 1326 “ 

Dark slate . “ 1330 “ 

Gray sand . “ 1335 “ 

Dark slate . “ 1343 “ 

Gray sand . “ 1348 “ 

Top of pay sand. “ 1343 “ 


Well No. 3, on the farm of F. P. Robling, 200 feet to East line, 400 feet 
S. E. Well No. 2, Section 35, Madison Township. Pike County: 


Soil . 

Yellow clay 
Dark slate 

Coal . 

Gray lime 
Dark slate . 
White lime 
Dark slate . 
Gray lime ... 
Light slate 
Dark slate 
Gray sand . 
Light slate 
Dark lime . 
Dark slate . 
Black slate 
Light slate 
Gray lime . 


to 


<< 


1 feet. 

6 “ 
100 “ 
104 “ 

109 “ 

134 “ 

154 “ 

209 “ 

213 “ 

258 “ 

308 “ 

323 “ 

343 “ 

353 “ 

393 “ 

398 “ 

435 “ 

450 


<« 


n 

















































208 

Light slate . to 465 feet 

Gray slate . “ 485 “ 

Light slate . “ 495 “ 

Gray lime . “ 500 “ 

Light slate . “ 505 “ 

White lime . “ 525 “ 

Light slate . “ 540 “ 

Coal . “ 545 “ 

Dark slate . “ 560 “ 

Brown lime . “ 565 “ 

Dark slate . “ 595 “ 

Light slate, 814" set at 635'. “ 645 “ 

Brown lime . “ 650 “ 

Dark slate . “ 700 “ 

White sand . “ 715 “ 

Dark slate . “ 720 “ 

White lime . “ 750 “ 

Dark slate . “ 790 “ 

Brown slate . “ 850 “ 

Light slate . “ 890 “ 

White sand, hole full of water... .. “ 923 “ 

Light slate . “ 926 “ 

White sand . “ 931 “ 

Dark slate . “ 953 “ 

Brown lime . “ 958 “ 

Dark slate . “ 1015 “ 

Brown sand . “ 1030 “ 

Dark slate . “ 1045 “ 

Dark slate . “ 1050 “ 

Brown lime . “ 1055 “ 

Light sand, hole full of water 1060.... “ 1160 “ 

Gray lime . “ 1168 “ 

Dark slate . “ 1173 “ 

White lime . “ 1180 “ 

Dark slate . “ 1185 “ 

Gray lime . “ 1205 “ 

Light slate . “ 1212 “ 

White lime . “ 1216 “ 

Dark slate . “ 1220 “ 

White lime . “ 1223 “ 

Dark slate . “ 1234 “ 

Brown lime . “ 1259 “ 

Light slate . “ 1279 “ 

Light mud . “ 1289 “ 

Dark lime . “ 1305 “ 

Dark slate . “ 1315 “ 

Dark sand . “ 1320 “ 

Dark lime . “ 1327 “ 

Dark slate .... “ 1340 “ 




















































200 


Gray lime . to 1342 feet 

Gray sand . " 1346 “ 

Pay sand .1342 “ 1346 “ 


Well Hecord No. 4, C. Burklmrt farm, Section 35, Madison Township 


Soil . 

Mud . 

Sand . 

Water sand 

Slate . 

Black slate 

Coal . 

Lime . 

Slate . 

Mud . 

Slate . 


to 8 feet. 
“ 16 “ 

“ 28 “ 

“ 40 “ 

“ 70 “ 

“ 90 “ 

“ 95 “ 

“ 105 “ 

“ 110 “ 

“ 190 “ 

“ 220 “ 


Coal . “ 227 “ 

Slate . “ 280 “ 


Sand . 

Slate . 

Sand . 

Lime . 

Slate . 

Sandy lime 
White slate 
Black slate 
White slate 

Lime . 

Black slate 
White slate 

Lime . 

Black slate 
White slate 
Black slate 

Lime . 

White slate 
Water sand 
Black slate 
Water sand 
Black slate 
White slate 
Black slate 

Sand . 

Black slate 

Sand . 

Sandy lime 
Water sand 
Black slate 
White slate 
Black slate 


“ 300 “ 

“ 305 “ 

“ 335 “ 

“ 340 “ 

“ 385 “ 

“ 405 “ 

“ 410 “ 

“ 435 “ 

“ 440 “ 

“ 445 M 

“ 450 “ 

“ 460 “ 

“ 465 “ 

“ 480 “ 

“ 560 “ 

“ 580 “ 

“ 585 “ 

“ 615 “ 

“ 650 “ 

“ 680 “ 
“ 705 “ 

“ 735 “ 

“ 750 “ 

“ 775 “ 

“ 790 “ 

“ 820 “ 
“ 870 “ 

“ 880 “ 
“ 900 “ 

“ 920 “ 

“ 930 “ 

“ 975 “ 


















































210 


Lime .to 979 feet 

Oil sand . “ 1007 “ 

Total depth . “ 1024 “ 

Washington Township. Two oil sands are reported from this township 
at depths ranging from 1110 to 1226 feet. The following is the log of a 
well completed Sept. 27, 1919, on the J. R. Chew farm, Section 32, Pike 
County: 

Surface .to 45 feet. 

Sand rock . “ 55 “ 


Slate . 

Lime shell . 

Coal . 

Slate . 

Sand .. 

Slate . 

Lime . 

Coal . 

Slate . 

White mud . 

Slate . 

Sandy shale . 

Sand . 

Slate . r . 

Sand . 

Slate . 

Water sand . 

Dark slate, mud. 

Sand . 

Dark slate . 

Lime shell . 

Sand . 

Sandy lime . 

Broken slate . 

Little lime . 

Light slate . 

Light lime . 

Sand . 

Lime . 

Slate . 

Big lime . 

Slate . 


105 

110 

112 

170 

180 

240 

245 

247 

317 

367 

383 

470 

525 

550 

590 

630 

680 

710 

725 

770 

815 

868 

876 

877 
887 
920 
935 
959 
962 
965 

1001 

1036 


Shell . “ 1039 

Slate . “ 1041 

Oakland City sand. “ 1050 

Slate . “ 1053 

Oakland City sand. “ 1061 

Brown lime . “ 1071 

Slate . “ 1081 














































Oil sand . to 1094 feet 

Hard shell . “ 1095 “ 

Broken sand . “ 1107 “ 

Brown oil sand . “ 1109 “ 

Total depth . “ H09 “ 

Log of Rogers well, Rogers Station, E. & I. R. R.: 

Common top sand.to 25 feet. 

Shale and limestone shells. “ 90 “ 

Streak of soft sand. “ 115 “ 

Soft muddy shale. “ 140 “ 

Coal and black shale. “ 150 “ 

White sand and black shale. “ 160 “ 

Streaks of very sharp sand. “ 187 “ 

White sand . “ 200 “ 

White and limestone shells. “ 220 “ 

Shale . “ 230 “ 

Shells . “ 247 “ 

Coal . “ 250 “ 

Caving slate and shale. “ 260 “ 

Sand, small flow of gas on top. “ 290 “ 

Black shale . “ 320 “ 

Limestone and shale. “ 360 “ 

Shale . “ 375 “ 

Limestone, shells and slate. “ 460 “ 

Sand shells . “ 470 “ 

Sand . “ 505 “ 

Limestone, shells and slate. “ 560 “ 

Sand, shells and slate. “ 600 “ 

Straight salt sand. “ 692 “ 

Straight limestone . “ 885 “ 

Limestone . “ 900 “ 

Sandstone and slate. “ 920 “ 

Sand and limestone. “ 945 “ 

Sand with small streaks of slate. “ 992 “ 

Streak of red marl. “ 994 “ 

Case brick penal cave. “ 1008 “ 

Slate and sand oil. “ 1027 “ 

Sand . “ 1057 “ 

Slate . “ 1075 “ 

Sand and limestone. “ 1161 

Limestone . “ 1185 


Report on Oil. 

24 Degrees gravity 
20 Degrees cold test 
300 Degrees fire test 
504 Vis. at 70 degrees 












































212 


Section 28, Washington Township: 

13 inch drive pipe. 57 feet. 

10 inch drive pipe. 124 “ 

8*4 inch casing pipe . 791 “ 

6^ inch casing . 1075 “ 

Top of gas sand.1162 “ 


Drilled in three feet. Tested 3,162,000 cubic feet capacity. Completed 
March 24, 1909. One well has been abandoned in Section 19, 3 in Section 
27, 3 in Section 28 and 1 in Section 30. 

A. B. Bement’s No. 10, on the L. C. Thomas farm. Section 32, Wash¬ 
ington Township, pumped 20 barrels from the brown sand. The top of 
the sand was struck at 1123 feet and drilled to a total depth of 1138 feet. 

Monroe Township. Record of the Yeager No. 1 well, N. E. % of the 


S. W. % of Section 26, Monroe Township: 

Surface, mud, loam and quick sand. 52 feet. 

Coal measures, shale, coal, etc. 408 “ 

Sandstones (Mansfield and Huron). 410 “ 

Limestone . 30 “ 

Shale . 15 “ 

Limestone . 40 “ 

Shale . 10 “ 

Limestone . 70 “ 

Shale . 5 “ 

Limestone . 54 “ 

Shale . 46 “ 

Limestone and shale. 41 “ 


Total depth .1181 “ 

The following wells have been abandoned: Section 21, 6 wells; Section 
22, 1 well; Section 23, 9 wells; Section 24, 1 well; Section 26, 6 wells; 
Section 27, 2 wells; Section 28, 3 wells; Section 30, 1 well; Section 35, 
4 wells. 


Logan Township. Two oil pools are located in this township, the Union 
and the Oatsville. The following is the record of a well from the Oatsville 
pool. A second well drilled on this lease reported oil at 1320 feet. 
Drilled July 17, 1919. 


Well No. 1, John Cornelius Farm, Section 27 

Surface clay .to 

Blue slate . 

Shell, first water. 

Slate . 

Sand .. 

Lime . 

Black slate . 

Sand ... 

Sandy shale . 


ion 

27. 

25 

feet. 

50 

ft 

55 

if 

80 

ft 

135 

it 

145 

a 

155 

ft 

175 

it 

200 

ft 




































213 


Lime and coal. 

. t<j 

210 

Tc 

White lime . 

a 

220 

i 

White slate . 

i i 

265 

i 

Black slate . 

a 

285 

( 

Sandy slate . 

a 

320 

i 

Sandy slate . 

a 

330 

i 

White slate . 

a 

360 

t 

Coal . 

a 

366 

t 

Slate . 

a 

415 

t 

Lime . 

tt 

420 

t 

Slate . 

a 

485 

i 

Lime . 

a 

489 

t 

Slate . 

ic 

540 

t 

Sandy lime . 

a 

600 

t 

White slate . 

a 

630 

i 

Black slate ... 

it 

675 

t 

Sandy lime . 

a 

745 

t 

Slate . 

a 

795 

6 

Salt water sand. 

a 

900 

i 

White slate . 

a 

935 

i 

Sand hard . 

a 

949 

i 

Sandy slate . 

a 

956 

t 

Black slate . 

a 

999 

( 

Coal ... 

a 

1000 

i 

Black slate . 

it 

1010 

t 

Sand . 

a 

1116 

{ 

Blue slate . 

a 

1126 

i 

Gray lime . 

u 

1146 

t 

Blue slate . 

a 

1177 

i 

Lime . 

a 

1232 

i 

Blue slate . 

a 

1239 

i 

Gray lime . 

a 

1244 

t 

Slate broken . 

a 

1269 

i 

Sand top . 

it 

1269 

i 

First oil . 

a 

1275 

i 

Coarse brown sand. 

a 

1281 

{ 

Fine white sand. 

a 

1292 

i 

Show water in last foot. 





On© well in Section 27 and another in Section 35 were abandoned. 

In the Union field oil sands are reported at depths ranging from 1.070 
to 1,774 feet. 

Patoka Township. A large number of wells have been drilled in this 
township. Wells have been abandoned as follows: Section 11. 7 wells; 
Section 13, 2 wells; Section 14, 18 wells; Section 15. 1 well; Section 18, 
1 well. 

Lockhart Township. One well was drilled in Section 5 and one in Sec¬ 
tion 21. 











































214 


Clay Township. One well was abandoned in Section 3 and one in 
Section 32. 

Jefferson Township. Wells were drilled in Sections 4, 8 and 31. 


PORTER COUNTY 

Devonian strata probably underlie the whole of Porter County, though 
it is possible that preglacial streams may have been cut through to the 
Silurian. The eroded surface of the Devonian is covered with glacial 
drift which attains a thickness of 200 feet or more. The record of a 
well drilled at Valparaiso is given by Phinney 1 as follows: 


Drift . 125 feet. 

Black shale . 65 “ 

Corniferous, lower Heiderhurg & water 230 “ 

Niagara limestone . 380 “ 

Niagara shale . 5 “ 

Clinton limestone . 55 “ 

Bluish-green Hudson River shales. 160 “ 

Chocolate-brown limestone (galena). 256 “ 

Trenton limestone . 68 “ 


Total depth .1344 “ 

Altitude of well. 715 “ 

Another well reported by Gorby 2 for the same place is recorded below: 

Section of Well No. 1. 

Drift . 125 feet. 

Hamilton shale . 65 “ 

Corniferous limestone . 55 “ 

Niagara limestone . 565 “ 

Clinton (?) limestone. 10 “ 

Hudson River limestone and shale. 185 “ 

Utica shale . 295 “ 

Trenton limestone . 144 “ 


Total depth .1444 “ 

Trenton below sea level. 602 “ 


The surface of the Trenton appears to dip northward through this 
county at the rate of about twenty feet to the mile. 


POSEY COUNTY 

Posey County lies within the area of outcrop of strata of the Pennsyl¬ 
vanian age. As it lies between the Wabash and Ohio Rivers, a goodly 
portion of its area is covered with alluvium. A somewhat larger area is 
mantled with glacial drift, though a portion of the county is unglaciated. 
With the exception of the river valleys, outcrops are not wanting in many 
parts of the county. Careful detailed work will probably reveal the 
























215 


structural conditions favorable to the accumulation of oil and gas if such 
exist. The coal beds and beds of limestone will probably be the most 
useful keys for unlocking structure. 


The following is the record of a well drilled at Mt. Vernon 1 : 

Yellow clay . 27 feet. 

Brown soapstone . 44 “ 

White sandstone (Merom). 32 “ 

Coal . 2 inches. 

Limestone with streaks of clay. 4 “ 

Blue shale . 7 “ 

Coal . 1 “ 

Fire clay . 5 “ 

Sulphur mixed with fire clay. 3 “ 

Soapstone . 3 “ 


Dark blue shale . 

25 

a 


Limestone . 

Coal . 

7 

it 

2 inches. 

Dark shale . 

Sandstone . 

25 

it 

6 inches. 

Soapstone . 

22 

it 

6 inches. 

Sandstone . 

Sandstone and shale, about every alter- 

5 

u 

6 inches. 

nate foot . 

19 

it 


Coal . 

6 

a 


Shale streaked with sandstone. 

5 

a 

6 inches. 

Soapstone . 

10 

a 


Dark shale . 

17 

ti 

6 inches. 

Black coal shale. 

Coal . 

3 

u 

4 inches. 

Blue fire clay. 

12 

it 


Dark fire clay. 

13 

a 


Sandstone . 

3 

a 


Shale streaked with sand. 

4 

a 

6 inches. 

Blue shale with small white streaks. 

46 

a 


Soft dark blue shales. 

46 

a 

6 inches. 

Black shale . 

1 

a 


Bastard shale . 

Rock . 

1 

a 

6 inches. 

6 inches. 

Coal . 

1 

a 

3 inches. 

Fire clay . 

7 

a 

3 inches. 

Soapstone .. 

7 

a 

3 inches. 

Total depth . 

407 

a 



Point Township. A deep well was drilled in Section 2 on the property 
of W. E. Hastings, and was plugged in 1913. No record of this well 
was obtained. 


Ashley, Coal Report, 1898, p. 1416. 










































Fig'. 57. Map showing the location of oil wells in the Francesville oil 
field in Pulaski County. 


PULASKI COUNTY 

Silurian and Devonian strata underlie the glacial drift in Pulaski Countv. 
Gas was found in some wells drilled at Francesville. The record of the 
first, well drilled is given below: 

Section of Well No. 1. 


Drift . 8 feet. 

Niagara limestone . 542 “ 

Hudson River limestone and shale... 235 “ 

Utica shale . 100 “ 

Trenton limestone . 10 “ 


Total depth . 895 “ 

Trenton below sea level. 200 “ 

Yielded a small quantity of gas. 


The concealment of the bedrock strata by the glacial drift prevents 
the determination of the structural conditions so that it is impossible to 




































217 


say whether structures favorable to the accumulation of oil and gas exist 
in other parts of the county or not. The surface of the Trenton in the 
southern part of the county is about 200 feet below sea level and the 
depth increases to more than 400 feet in the northern portion of the 
county. 

Railroad Elevations. 

Boone, 725.1; Thornhope, 710.8; Star City, 697.7; Winamac, 700.3; 
Monterey, 714; Francesville, 680; Medaryville, 688.1; Clarks, 705.4; An- 
thonys, 706.6; Lawton, 713; Beardstown, 713. 



Fig. 5S. Map showing- outline of small anticline on the State Farm 
near Putnamville. Contours on the surface of limestone. 











































PUTNAM COUNTY 

The glacial drift in Putnam County is thin so that the hed rock is 
exposed in many places. The drift is of greater thickness in the northern 
part of the county than in the southern part and consequently the outcrops 
of the bed rock are more numerous in the latter. The rocks underlying 
the drift belong to the Knobstone, Warsaw, Salem, Mitchell, and Chester 
divisions of the Mississippian and Pottsville (Mansfield) and coal meas¬ 
ures (Allegheny) divisions of the Pennsylvanian. In the southern part 
of the county in the region occupied by the Chester and the Pennsylvanian 
divisions the structural conditions may be determined. A small structure 
has been outlined by the writer on the State Farm and others may exist 
in the county. 

A well was drilled in Section 28 of Russell Township to a depth of 800 
feet. It probably encountered the Corniferous limestone in the Devonian 
at which point a strong flow of salt water and a slight showing of gas 
were encountered. 

A well at Reelsville in Washington Township at an elevation of 600 
feet above sea level penetrated the Niagara limestone at 1240 feet and 
secured an artesian supply of salt water. 

Bainbridge. A well was drilled on the Miller farm, one and one-half 
miles west of Bainbridge, to a depth of 1647 feet, a little oil was obtained 
at 1450 feet. This was evidently in the Trenton, the surface of which 
must be about 1400 feet or a little below. 

Several wells have been drilled around Greencastle, but no records 
have been obtained. 


RANDOLPH COUNTY 

This county lies within the glaciated area where the drift is from 25 
to 150 feet thick. The drift rests upon the eroded surface of the Niagara. 
The concealment of the bed rock prevents the determination of the 
structural conditions favorable to the accumulation of oil. 

White River Township. The first well drilled in Winchester passed 


through the following strata 1 : 

Drift . 147 feet. 

Niagara limestone . 110 “ 

Niagara shale . 40 “ 

Hudson River . 430 “ 

Utica shale . 330 “ 

Trenton limestone . 20 “ 


Total depth .1077 “ 


Trenton below sea level, 24 feet. A feeble flow of gas and a few barrels 
of oil were obtained. A second well drilled one mile north of No. 1 found 
the Trenton 38 feet higher, well shot, only a feeble flow of gas. No. 3 
was drilled one-fourth mile northeast of No. 2, and the Trenton found 72 
feet above sea level, well shot, flow feeble. No. 4, located west of No. 1, 










219 



oil territory and the western part of Stony Creek and Nettle Creek 
is gas territory. 

yielded a little gas and oil. as did No. 5, located east of No. 3. No. 6, 
located three-quarters of a mile northeast of Winchester, reached the 
Trenton at 1044 and yielded gas at 1056 to 1060. No. 7, located sixty rods 
southeast of No. 6, reached the Trenton at 1036 feet and gas between 
1060 and 1071. No. 8, located one-half mile northeast of No. 7, was dry. 
No. 9, located forty rods north of No. 7, gave a good flow. No. 10, located 
south of No. 7, produced 1,500,000 cubic feet per day. 

Wells drilled on the Prickett farm in Section 23, southeast of Win¬ 
chester, produced 20 barrels of oil per day. 

Record of Prickett Wells. 


Drive pipe . 85 feet. 

Casing . 226 

Top of Trenton.1091 

Total depth .1156 










































































































































































220 


Wells drilled on the Eliza Goodrich farm, near Winchester, produced 
a small amount of oil and gas. The records of two of these wells are 
as follows: 

No. 7 No. 8 

Drift . 102 feet. 70 feet. 

Niagara limestone . 85 “ 110 “ 

Hudson River . 549 “ 520 “ 

Utica shale . 300 “ 332i 

Trenton limestone . 49 “ 


' 1 “ 
J M 


511 


Total depth .1085 “ 1084 “ 

Wells have been plugged in this township as follows: Section 2, 

1 well; Section 3, 1 well; Section 4, l.well; Section 5, 1 well; Section 9, 

2 wells; Section 15, 1 well; Section 16, 1 well; Section 22, 1 well; Section 
27, 1 well; Section 32, 1 well; Section 35, 1 well. 

Monroe Township. Seven wells were drilled at Farmland. Four pro¬ 
duced some gas. A section of well No. 1 is given below: 

Farmland Well No. 1. 


Drift . 55 feet. 

Niagara limestone . 160 “ 

Hudson River . 585 “ 

Utica shale . 185 “ 

Trenton limestone . 32 “ 


Total depth .1017 “ 

Trenton above sea level. 55 “ 


Oil was found in this township in Sections 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 
21, gas in 9 and 27. Wells abandoned are located in: Section 1, 3 wells; 
Section 3, 1 well; Section 5, 4 wells; Section 7, 1 well; Section 8, 1 well; 
Section 9, 2 wells; Section 10, 1 well; Section 12, 1 well; Section 13, 
1 well; Section 15, 1 well; Section 17, 4 wells; Section 32, 1 well; 
Section 33, 5 wells; Section 34, 2 wells. 


Stony Creek Township. Oil was obtained from Sections 19 and 30. 
The record of a dry hole in Section 32 is given below: 


Drive pipe . 64 feet. 

Casing . 320 “ 

Top of Trenton . 956 “ 

Total depth . 307 “ 


Greene Township. Oil was found in Sections 20, 28, and 29. Wells 
have been plugged in Sections 2, 1 well; Section 6, 1 well; Section 8, 
2 wells; Section 20, 1 well; Section 21, 1 well; Section 23, 1 well; 
Section 24, 2 wells; Section 27, 1 well; Section 29, 1 well; Section 35, 
1 well. 

Section 1, R. 12 E., Greene Township. 

Top soil . 42 feet. 

Lime . 220 “ 

Shale . 694 “ 

Drilled 446 feet into Trenton. 

























221 


Total depth .1402 “ 

Dry hole. Showing of oil very good at....1006 “ 

Showing of sand favorable for oil.1250 “ 

Well shot. No good results. 

Section 26, T. 21 N., R. 11 E-, J. W. Bartlett Farm. 

Top soil . 46 feet. 

Lime . 280 “ 

Shales . 632 “ 

Trenton at . 958 “ 

Into Trenton . 145 “ 

Total depth .1103 “ 

Oil showing at . 975 “ 

Good oil showing at.1103 “ 


Franklin Township. At Ridgeville three dry holes were drilled. The 
Trenton was reached at 981. 2 feet above sea level. A well was drilled 
and abandoned in Section 23. on the J. M. Addington property, in 1919. 

Wayne Township. A little gas was found at Union City. Four wells 
were drilled. In well No. 4, north of the city, the Trenton was reached 
at 1093 and is 83 feet below sea level. The record of the first well kept 
by A. Jaqua is as follows: 

Union City Well No. 1. 


Drift . 98 “ 

White limestone (Niagara). 72 “ 

Dark gray limestone. 62 “ 

Bluish limestone . 38 “ 

Niagara shale . 40 “ 

Clinton (?) limestone. 15 “ 

Bluish-green shale . 400 “ 

Gray shale . 175 “ 

Brown shale . 175 “ 

Black shale . 80 “ 

Trenton limestone . 525 “ 

Gray sandstone (St. Peter). 100 


Total depth .1780 

Altitude of well.1079 


Another well at Union City yielded traces of gas between depths 1155 
and 1162 feet. The record of this well follows: 


Union City Well. 


Drift . 98 

Niagara limestone .-. 250 

Hudson River and Utica. 800 

Trenton limestone . 540 


Total depth . 

Trenton below sea level 


1688 

40 


a 


































ooo 


Nettle Creek Township. A well was drilled at Losantsville and after 
passing through 173 feet of drift and 821 feet of rock the Trenton was 
reached at 994 feet. The total depth was 1105 feet. No oil, gas or water 
was found in the Trenton. The top of the Trenton is 146 feet above sea 
level. 

Washington Township. Abandoned wells are located in this township 
as follows: Section 5, 1 well; Section 9, 3 wells; Section 10, 1 well; 
Section 14, 1 well; Section 15. 1 well; Section 16. 1 well. 

Jackson Township: Wells have been abandoned in this township as 
follows: Section 4, 1 well; Section 5, 2 wells; Section 7, 2 wells: 
Section 8, 2 wells; Section 29. 1 well. 

Ward Township. Abandoned wells are located as follows: Section 11. 
1 well; Section 12, 1 well; Section 23. 2 wells; Section 24. 1 well; Section 
26, 4 wells; Section 34. 2 wells. 


RIPLEY COUNTY 


The geological formations represented by outcrops in this county arc 
given below: 


^Recent. Alluvial sands and clays. 

Quaternary.../Pleistocene, glacial gravel, sands and till. 

Devonian......Limestones. 

Silurian.Limestones and shales. 

Ordovician.Shales and limestones. 


The Pleistocene covering the bed rock varies from a few feet to fifty 
feet in thickness and rests on the eroded surface of the bed rock. The 
latter outcrops at many points so that it may be possible to determine 
the structural conditions by surficial observations. 

The surface of the Trenton is about sea level in the eastern part of 
the county and lies probably as much as 150 feet below in the western 
part of the county. If the structural conditions are favorable there is a 
possibility of oil or gas accumulations in the Devonian and the Trenton 
strata. 


Railroad Elevations. 

Milan, 1,007; Pierceville, 1,007; Osgood. 990; Dabney, 966; Holton, 923; 
Sunman, 1,016.6; Morris, 997.5. 


RUSH COUNTY 

Rocks belonging to the Devonian and Silurian periods form the bed 
rocks of this county. The glacial drift lies upon the surface of these 
formations to a depth of from 50 to 100 feet and prevents the determin¬ 
ation of structural conditions. 

Rushville Township. At Rushville three wells obtained gas. The 
record of well No. 1 is given below: 






Drift . 60 

Chert and cherty limestone (Corniferous) 40 

Niagara limestone and shale. 200 

Hudson River limestone and shale. 200 

Utica shale . 360 

Total to Trenton . 860 

Trenton above sea level. 124 

From drillings preserved by G. W. Clark, Phinney 
following record of one of the wells: 

Drift . 48 

White limestone . 42 

Blue limestone . 30 

Gray limestone (Clinton) . 5 

Hudson River limestone and shale. 420 

Utica shale . 262 

Gray limestone . 25 

Brown limestone, Trenton . 35 

White limestone . 30 


feet. 

a 

a 

a 

a 

a 

u ' ri i>f W 

constructed the 

feet. 


Total . 922 feet. 

Altitude of well . 996 “ 


Union Township. At Glenwood the top of the Trenton was reached at 
950 feet, or 166 feet above sea level. 

A well at Milroy in Anderson Township was unproductive. 


Ripley Township. A log of a well drilled at Carthage is as follows: 

Drift . 50 feet. 

Limestone . 100 “ 

Shale . 670 “ 

Trenton limestone . 20 “ 

Total depth . 840 “ 

Wells drilled and abandoned in this township are as follows: 


Owner. 

Section. 

Date. 

Wells. 

J. Phares . 

. 10 

1912 

1 

F. K. Mull .. 

. 15 

1912 

1 

W. P. Stanley .... 

. 18 

1912 

1 

V. Robertson .. 

. 20 

1913 

1 

Benton Henley .. 

.... 25 

1912 

1 

Noah Moore . 

. 27 

1916 

1 

J. Vasbinder . 

. 6 

1911 

1 

Jabez Reddick .. 

. 28 

1912 

1 

J. H. Powers . 

. 34 

1911 

1 

John Swain . 

. 34 

1912 

1 

Wm. Dille . 

... 35 

1913 

1 

d n Township. A 

large number 

of wells 

were drilled 


township. The following have been abandoned: Section 1, 3 wells; 
Section 3, 1 well; Section 14, 1 well; Section 33, 1 well; Section 4, 3 wells; 
Section 5, 2 wells; Section 16, 2 wells; Section 34, 1 well; Section 7, 






































6 wells; Section 8, 3 wells; Section 22, 1 well; Section 9, 2 wells; Section 
11, 5 wells; Section 26, 2 wells; Section 12, 2 wells; Section 13, 1 well; 
Section 32, 1 well. 

Jackson Township. Wells were drilled and abandoned in the following 
Sections: 5, 6, 10, and 20, one well each. 

Posey Township. A well drilled in Section 4 was abandoned in 1911, 
on J. Piper property. 

Walker Township. A well on the Tillie Trees property in Section 15 
was abandoned in 1913. 


SCOTT COUNTY 

The geological formations outcropping in this county belong to the 
Devonian, Mississippian, and Quaternary periods. The divisions repre¬ 
sented are given below: 

Quaternary.j Recent—Clays and alluvium. 

^Pleistocene—Sands, gravels and till. 

Mississippian.^Knobstone—Shales and sandstones. 

j Rockford—Limestones. 

'New Albany—Shales. 

Sellersburg—Limestones. 

Silver Creek—Limestones. 
Jeffersonville—Limestones, 
h of the regolith, outcrops of the durolith 
are perhaps numerous enough to permit the determination of the struc¬ 
tural conditions for the greater part of the county. The best key horizon 
will be the contact between the Sellersburg limestone and the New Albany 
shales for the eastern part of the county and the Rockford limestone for 
the western part. 

Three deep wells were drilled in this county in search of oil, but no 
production was obtained and the records of the wells were not obtained. 

Railroad Elevations. 

Blocher, 677; Lexington, 620. 


Devonian. 


Because of the removal of muc 


SHELBY COUNTY 

The drift in Shelby County varies in thickness from 50 to 150 feet and 
overlies Devonian limestones and shales. There are a few outcrops of 
Silurian rocks in the southeastern part of the county. 

Addison Township. According to Phinney 1 five wells were drilled in 
the vicinity of Shelbyville. He gave the following general section: 


Drift . 45 feet. 

Limestone . 265 “ 

Shale . 527 “ 

Trenton limestone . 100 “ 


Total depth . 937 “ 

Altitude of well. 772 “ 














225 


Logs of the first two wells drilled at Shelbyville are given below: 

No. 1 No. 2 

Drift . 48 feet. 80 feet. 

Corniferous limestone . 30 “ . 

Niagara limestone . 102 “ 769 “ 

Hudson River limestone and 

shale . 657 “ 

Trenton limestone . 86 “ . 


Total depth . 923 “ 849 “ 

Trenton below sea level. 79 “ . 

Hanover Township. At Morristown a well drilled on the Clias. F. Muth 
farm was reported by Phinney 1 as in No. 1 below and by Gorby- as in No. 2. 

No. 1 No. 2 

Drift . 140 feet. 140 feet. 

Limestone . 20 “ . 

Niagara . 120 “ 130 “ 

Hudson River & Utica shale 6384 “ 628 “ 

Two wells were abandoned in Section 1, three in Section 17, and one 
in Section 18. The Trenton was reached at St. Paul in Noble Township 
at 820 feet. The thickness of the drift is 90 feet and the altitude is 
844 feet. 

Marion Township. A well drilled on the S. A. Haven property in Section 
6 was abandoned in 1911. 

Union Township. A well drilled on the property of H. W. & J. W. 
Moore was abandoned in 1911, and one on the property of Charles Brown 
in Section 17 in 1913. 

Van Buren Township. Wells drilled on the property of Walter Hadley 
and Elias Miller in Section 17 were abandoned in 1913. 


SPENCER COUNTY 

The strata occupying almost the whole of the surface of Spencer County 
belong to the Allegheny division of the Pennsylvanian, though some out¬ 
crops of the Pottsville probably occur on the banks and in the bed of 
the Anderson River, which forms the eastern boundary. The rocks are 
sandstones, shales, and limestones with intercalated beds of coal. Three 
divisions of coal occur in the county. It is possible that coal and some 
of the associated limestones may prove valuable as key formations by 
the use of which the structure may be determined. Gas has been found 
in the county in Jackson Township, near Graysville. 

The following is a record of the well drilled on the Fred Frakes farm, 
Section 3, R. 6 W., Jackson Township, near Gentryville, Spencer County: 


10-inch drive pipe. 80 feet. 

8-inch drive pipe. 400 

Showing of oil. 720 

e^-inch casing . 900 

Gas sand . 990 

Finished .1025 

























226 


Capacity of first twenty-four hours, 1,000,000 cubic feet. A well was 
drilled in Section 1 of this township in 1913, three miles east of Grays- 
ville. Two dry holes were drilled in 1916. 

Harrison Township. A well was drilled north of St. Meinrad in Section 
12 in 1913 without securing production. 

Railroad Elevations. 

Dale, 432.0; Lincoln City, 459.0; Gentryville, 413.0; Pigeon 403.0; Lin- 
colnville, 459; Buffaloville, 427; Lamars, 411; Evanston, 413; Bradleys, 
460; Chrisney, 447; Millers, 423; Ritchies, 409; Rock Hill, 400; Rock- 
port, 380. 


STARKE COUNTY 

This county lies on the north side of the extension of the Cincinnati 
arch passing through Indiana. Its bedrock strata consist of limestones 
and shales of Devonian age. On the eroded surface of these rocks there 
has been deposited an overburden of glacial drift which attains a thick¬ 
ness of several hundred feet. Because of the covering of glacial drift 
the structural conditions existing in the bed rock of this county cannot 
be determined by direct observation. If a sufficient number of deep well 
records could be obtained, the structures might be determined. Until 
such records are available the location of structures favorable to the 
accumulation of oil and gas cannot be located if such exist in the county. 

The surface of the Trenton lies between 250 and 500 feet below sea level 
in this county, being nearer sea level in the southern part of the county. 

Railroad Elevations. 

Hamlet, 702; Knox, 702; Toto, 703; North Judson, 697; San Pierre, 704; 
Grovertown, 719.8; Davis, 681.7; Ora, 718; Bass Lake Jet., 711; Aldine, 715. 


ST. JOSEPH COUNTY 

The strata of the Devonian age underlie the glacial drift of this county. 
The glacial drift reaches a thickness of one hundred and fifty or more 
feet. The dip of the bed rock is toward the north. 

The section of a well in South Bend constructed from drillings furnished 


Phinney 1 by J. D. Oliver is as follows: 

Drift sand and gravel. 137 feet. 

Waverly shale (bluish green, calcareous) 143 “ 

Black shale ._. 70 “ 

Brown shale . 25 “ 

Gray limestone upper (Helderburg). 60 “ 

Blue limestone . 20 “ 

Lower Helderburg, with gypsum. 170 “ 

Water lime . 55 “ 

Niagara limestone (gray buff & white) 470 “ 

Buff Clinton limestone . 30 “ 

Hudson River limestone and shale. 220 “ 










Utica shale .,. 183 “ 

Trenton limestone (chocolate colored) 85 “ 

Total .1670 feet. 

Altitude of well . 725 “ 

Salt water was encountered at 375, 610 and 1670 feet. 

The record of a well drilled on the Studebaker farm follows 2 : 

Drift . 160 feet. 

Sub-Carboniferous and Hamilton shale 220 “ 

Corniferous limestone . 60 “ 

Lower Helderburg limestone . 40 “ 

Niagara limestone . 640 “ 

Clinton (?) limestone . 60 “ 

Hudson River and Utica . 420 “ 

Trenton limestone . 427 “ 


Total depth .2027 feet. 

Trenton below sea level . 855 “ 

Yielded no gas or oil. 


The structural conditions of the durolitli in this county cannot be deter¬ 
mined by direct observation because of the glacial drift which conceals 
the outcrop of the strata. The surface of the Trenton lies from 600 to 
1,000 feet below sea level. 


STEUBEN COUNTY 

The strata underlying the glacial drift in Steuben county belong to the 
Mississippian and the Devonian periods of geological times. The bed 
rock formation consist of shales and limestones. The outcrops of these 
rocks are concealed by a thick mantle of glacial drift which was deposited 
on their eroded surface and attains a total thickness of several hundred 
feet. The dip of the bedrock is toward the north away from the west¬ 
ward extension of the Cincinnati arch through Indiana. Because of the 
glacial drift the structural and the stratigrapliical conditions of the bed¬ 
rock can not be determined by surficial methods of observation. Deep 
well records are not at present available for the determination of the 
structure by the use of subsurface data. Prospecting for oil and gas in 
this county, for the above reasons, will prove extremely hazardous. 

The surface of the Trenton probably lies between 1,500 and 2,000 feet 
below sea level in this county, being nearer the surface in the southern 
part. 

Railroad Elevations 

Hamilton, 926; Ashley, 999; Fredrick, 972.2; Helmer, 986; Steuben¬ 
ville, 991; Pleasant Lake, 976.1; Angola, 1055.3; Fremont, 1058.1; Ray, 
1077.8. 

















SULLIVAN COUNTY 

(By Dr. S. S. Visher) 

Location. There are seven major pools or oil fields producing at present 
in Sullivan County. These pools are about 30 miles south of Terre Haute, 
in the Wabash Valley. They are within a few miles of Sullivan, north¬ 
west, west and southwest. Their combined area is about twelve square 
miles. The location of the pools is shown on the accompanying map on 
which the elevation of numerous points is also shown. 

Production. The present production is about 380 barrels per day. Wide¬ 
spread production commenced in August 1913; it became considerable in 
1914, reaching 3,000 barrels a day by June 1st; increased somewhat in 
1915 and reached a maximum in that year. Since 1915 it has declined 
somewhat steadily, in spite of the opening of two new pools and the bring¬ 
ing in of a number of producers in the older pools. The daily production, 
when greatest, was about 3,500 barrels per day, or nearly three times the 
present production. 










































































































Number of Wells. October 1, 1919 about 480 wells were being pumped. 
More than 1,000 wells have been sunk for oil in the county. (Four hun¬ 
dred between April 1, 1913 to June 1, 1914, of which 225 were producers, 
according to Barrett.) Probably more non-producing wells have been 
drilled in the county than producers. Every month a few wells formerly 
pumped are abandoned, because it no longer pays to pump them. Two 
outfits are at present engaged in drilling new wells. Before the war, sev¬ 
eral outfits were kept busy thus. New producers are added to the total 
of producers every month, but more wells are abandoned than added, so 
that the number of producing wells is decreasing, and has been for the 
last two or three years. The decrease in production is greater than the 
decrease in the number of wells, however, the declining yield of the exist¬ 
ing wells, being the cause. 

The average production per well is already distinctly less than a barrel 
per day. Many wells yielded 20 barrels their first day, and some yielded 
100 to 150 and a few somewhat more. At present, many wells yield as 
little as one-fourth barrel. With the present high price of oil, a producer 
is not abandoned until it yields less than that, unless it needs recasing. 

The presence of 480 wells in an area of 12 square miles, means that on 
the average there are 40 wells per square mile. In the better parts of the 
12 square miles, the wells are drilled only 400 or 460 feet apart, 9 on each 
40 acres; wells being drilled 200 feet from the outside lines of the 40 and 
on a central row where each well is 460 feet from another of the tract. 
Nine wells on a 40, is at the rate of 144 per square mile. 

‘'Wild-catting” is the only method known in this area to discover new 
pools. Wells are drilled at increasing, or irregular distances from the 
original producing area. If a pool extends that far, production is ob¬ 
tained; if it does not extend that far, a “dry hole” results, unless a new 
pool is entered. 

Similarity of the Pools. The pools of Sullivan County are similar in 
several respects: (1) The oil is of similar quality, a good, light oil, for 
the most part (that in the Bragdon pool is the heaviest; that in the Shel- 
burn or Heim pool, the lightest. All the oil is pumped together to the 
refinery. The Refinery for Illinois Pipe Line Company is at Marshall, Ill.) 
(2) The oil all comes from “oil sands.” (3) The depth to corresponding 
rock formations is approximately the same in all the pools because the 
surface slopes to the southwest at approximately the same rate that the 
rock formations dip in that direction. The region has slight relief. (4) 
In all the pools, all the four oil sands are present. In one of them, all the 
four sands are productive. Each of the four sands is the chief productive 
sand in one or more of the pools. (5) The pools are all small, the largest, 
the Shelburn or Heims has considerable production from only three square 
miles. The smallest, the Bradgon is only 40 acres. (6) The production 
per well averaged approximately the same in each pool when it was 
opened up. (7) The decline per well in yield has been at a somewhat 
similar rate in each of the pools. (8) Most of the producing wells yield a 
little gas, more when new than later, however. (Five strong gas wells 
have been struck in the county, but none in a pool. Four are just south¬ 
east of the Scott pool, near Sullivan. Their gas is piped to the city.) (9) 
In none of the pools is the main gas supply associated with the oil sands. 


Production, etc., of the Sullivan County Oil Pools. 


Name 

No. of 
Pro¬ 
ducing 
Wells 

Daily 
Produc¬ 
tion 
in Bbls. 

When 

opened 

Average 
Elevation 
of Surface 
Above 
Sea Level 

Average 
Depth to 
Sand 

Productive 

Sand 

Depth 
of Sand 
Below 
Sea Level 

Hcirnes or Shelburn. 

260 

231 

1913 

520 

615-645 

1, 2, 3 and 4 

100-130 

Dodds’ Bridge. 

72 

51 

1915 

580 

635-683 

1 and 2 

130-185 

Denny. . 

14 

14 

1914-18 

520 

800-810 

4 

180-280 

Harmon or Raley.. . 

19 

10 

1914-15 

480 

770-780 

3 and 4 

290-300 

Bradgen. 

6 

3 

1917 

460 


4“ 

.......... 

Edwards or Buff. 

32 

44 

1911 

480 

740-760 

2 and 3 

260-280 

Scott or Jamison. 

79 

27 

1913-13 

530 

730-775 

2 

200-250 


Geology of the Pools. Production is obtained in Sullivan County from 
four oil sands. The highest of these is quite certainly along the uncon¬ 
formity between the Allegheny and the Pottsville Divisions of the Coal 
Measures. It occurs below Coal 111 and in most places above the level 
of the lower Minshall coal. As is to be expected on an erosion surface, 
this sand is higher at some points than at others. It is about 90 feet below 
Coal 111 in many places, elsewhere it is only 40 feet. In some places it is 
found below the level at which the upper Minshall coal occurs in not dis¬ 
tant wells. In none of the logs however was it found actually below that 
coal though in some composite logs it is necessarily so shown. Erosion 
removed both the upper and lower Minshall coals at some points. The 
sand deposited along such an erosion valley might be below the level of 
these coals where they occur in intervalley areas. The existence of such 
valleys is indicated by a number of the well records. 

The second and third oil sands are a short distance below the lower 
block coal and are thus in the Mansfield sandstone of the Pottsville Di¬ 
vision of the Pennsylvanian Formation (“The Coal Measures”). The 
lowest, fourth, oil sand is probably also in the Mansfield, but it may be 
barely possible that it is in the uppermost Mississippian Formation, the 
Chester. 

The correlation of the coals upon which the above conclusions, as to 
the ages of the oil sands depends in part was by means of (1) Ashley’s 
identifications of the higher coals in the mines just east of the pools, at 
Shelburn, Sullivan, Farmersburg and Curry; (2) Upon the spacings of the 
coals and their thickness as compared with the conditions stated by 
Ashley in the 1898 and 1908 reports of the State Geologist ,to be charac¬ 
teristic of these horizons where they are penetrated by many mines in the 
eastern half of this county. (3) A few logs are sufficiently detailed so 
far as the rocks overlying and underlying the coals are concerned so that 
some of the coals may be identified by characteristic roof or floor rock. 
(4) Coal IV contains more gas in this area than does the other coals. In 
some of the logs mention is made of this gas at this horizon and hence 
has aided in the correlation. It is of course recognized that there may be 
mistakes in the numbering of the coals in the following logs. The de¬ 
termination of the age of the oil sands does not, however, depend solely 
upon the correlation of the coals. The clear evidence of the erosion sur¬ 
face occupied by the first, (Heims or Shelburn pool) oil sand is inde¬ 
pendent of the correlation of the coals. The existence of three coals 

























below this oil sand proves that it is not Mansfield in age, as it has been 
considered. The fact that no coal has been found below the lower oil 
sands in the several wells which have gone deeper proves that these sands 
are below the Block coals. The fact that the second and third sands are 
within a hundred feet or so of the lowest coals proves that they are Penn¬ 
sylvanian in age, rather than older. 

The existence ot more than two productive sands has not previously 
been clearly recognized in this oil field. Many operators have assumed 
indeed, that there is only one, in spite of indisputable evidence to the 
contrary long available. Some few operators recognized that two sands 
are producive, and one operator suspected that three are. A study of the 
more than 100 well records upon which this study is largely based, shows 
that a failure to appreciate that more than one oil sand is productive, 
has reduced production greatly. Many well records show that drilling 
was terminated only a few feet above the horizon where, in not distant 
wells valuable production was obtained. In not a few cases, a small 
amount of oil was found in one of the higher sands. After pumping the 
oil out of this sand, the well should have been deepened to the next sand, 
instead of being abandoned, as it has been in nearly every case. Of the 
four sands which yield oil in paying quantities in one or more wells in 
this field, the top sand is productive in at least two pools. It is entered 
at from 610 to 660 feet depending upon the topography of the surface and 
the location of the well. Most of the production in the chief pool, the 
Heims or Shelburn is from this level. Much of the production from the 
Dodds’ Bridge pool is also from this level. The second sand is productive 
in at least three pools. It yields most of the oil in the Scott and the 
Edwards pools and much of that in the Dodds’ Bridge pool. The third 
sand is productive in at least four pools, the Edwards, Harmon, Scott and 
Heims. The fourth sand is productive in at least four of the pools, the 
Bragdon, Harmon, Denny and Heims. The second sand occurs at approxi¬ 
mately 660 to 700 feet varying with the pools and the surface. The third 
sand is at about 730 to 775 and the fourth sand at 800 feet or so. The 
depth to the sands is less in the Heims pool than in the pools to the west 
or south because the rock formations dip southwest at a little greater 
angle than the surface slopes in that direction. 

None of the oil sands are uniformly productive. Even only a few 
hundred feet from a productive well, the corresponding sand in another 
well may yield no oil. Commonly such a non-productive condition is due 
to the sand not being porous. That is, it is clayey. In other cases the 
sand is so thin as to yield little oil. In still other cases it is filled with 
water. Some of the water is salty. Before abandoning a well, where the 
sand is filled with water it might pay to pump the water a while. 
Sometimes oil is obtained after the water has been removed. 

The productive sand is from 20 to 30 feet thick in most of the producing 
wells. Considerable production is obtained in some wells, however, from 
sands less than 10 feet thick. 

The variation in the thickness of the sand in nearby wells, and its 
presence at some points and absence nearby indicates that the sand 


o*>‘> 
_• >_ 


deposits are lenticular or along channels. There commonly is a conspicu¬ 
ous thinning of the sand outward from the center of the pool. In most dry 
holes, no oil sand, or sand of any kind at that horizon is penetrated. This 
thinning is not only at the edge. Many dry holes have been drilled within 
pools. In most of them the sand is so impure as not to be porous, 
however. In some, it is lacking. 

The pools are not known to be related to any local folding or doming. 
Much oil elsewhere has been proven to have accumulated in paying 
quantities along the buried sandy channels of ancient streams. The 
evidence at hand does not warrant a dogmatic statement in regard to 
the reasons for the pools of Sullivan County being where they are. The 
indications are, however, that the several pools represent lenses of sand 
along the valley of an aggrading stream or streams. 

The fact, established by a number of well logs, that the depth to the 
sand is often less near the central part of the pool than near its periphery 
probably is to be explained by the lenticular shape of the deposits of 
sand rather than as being due to doming. The depths to the overlying 
coals do not clearly indicate dynamic doming. The fact that some coals 
are higher at one point than nearby often show that the coals themselves 
were not laid down horizontally, because often one coal in a well will be 
higher than normal and another will be lower, deeper, than normal. 

Glacial drift of considerable thickness overlies most of the area. In 
some wells it is penetrated for nearly 100 feet, in others it is very thin. 
It has been removed by erosion along some of the valleys in some of the 
pools. In Dodds’ Bridge pool and in Scott pool for example, a seam of 
coal is exposed in the valley side only a few rods from some oil wells 
and only a few feet lower. 

Special Problems: 

1. The present cost of a completed well is about $2,200. When most 
of the wells were drilled, the average cost was between $1,600 and $1,700. 
At the present price of oil, a well yielding less than y 2 barrel a day will 
ordinarily not pay for itself, even if located most favorably, in respect to 
other wells. Rather than abandon such a well, however, it pays to pump 
it if it can be connected up to a nearby pump. It will bring good interest 
on the casing and pay the cost of pumping, but not the cost of drilling. 

2. Salt water occurs just beneath the lowest oil sand at many points. 
If the well is drilled too deep, salt water may enter, making the well 
valueless, in many cases. Many of the dry holes near the pools and 
elsewhere stop in a salt sand, because of the conviction that when that 
sand is struck, there is no further hope for oil. This belief is supported 
by experience, as many wells have gone deeper. However salt water 
occurs in some wells at levels far above the lowest oil sand. Thence the 
striking of salt sand is a proper occasion for the abandonment of the 
hole only when it is struck at about 800 feet. 

3. Where the numerous coal seams are penetrated, the casing is 
etched, probably by sulphuric acid developed from the sulphur in the 
coal. The pipe becomes bright within a few weeks. Many wells have to 
be recased or abandoned after only a few months. (If the well does not 
yield more than y 2 barrel, it is not recased.) 


O 4 > • > 

•J* >* > 


Conclusions: 

Sullivan County lias several pools now yielding oil. The oil comes 
from four oil sands in the lower Coal Measures partly just above the 
Pottsville, and partly from the Mansfield horizon of the Pottsville. 
Undoubtedly other pools will be discovered for in the past the existence of 
the four oil sands has not been clearly recognized. Many wells have been 
abandoned before the underlying sands have been tested. The deepest 
oil sand is only about 800 feet beneath the surface 1 . 


Composite log for Heims Pool. Based on 50 logs to first oil sand. Aver¬ 
age elevation of surface about 523 feet. Surface relief in area about 20 
feet: 


Coal 6 (6 ft.). 

Coal 5a (3 ft.). 

Coal 5 (5 ft.).... v .. 

Coal 4a (rare) 5 ft. 


Coal 3a (5 ft.). 

Coal 3 (4 ft.). 

Gas pockets present in coals 3 and 4. 


Coal 2 (locally) (2 ft.) 


Lower block coal?. 


Pool. Based on 4 1< 
about 500 feet: 

Coal 8, top at. 


Coal 3u 
Coal 3 . 


60 to 

70 

feet. 

110 “ 

150 

a 

170 “ 

180 

66 

220 “ 

240 

66 

260 “ 

280 

66 

305 “ 

320 

66 

340 “ 


66 

425 “ 

440 

66 

480 “ 

500 

66 

520 “ 

560 

66 

615 “ 

608 " 

645 

66 

636 “ 

640 

66 

655 “ 

661 

66 

660 “ 

680 

66 

690 “ 

694 

6 6 

705 “ 

708 

66 

775 “ 

815 

66 

p in N. 

W. part Heims’ 

Elevation 

of surface 

to 

70 

feet. 

170 “ 

175 

66 

220 “ 
435 + 

225 

66 

41)2 to 

550 “ 


6 6 

615 “ 

620 

<1 

645 “ 


. 

658 “ 

669 

66 


'The author received much information from L. H. Crews, Shelburn, the 
local manager of the Ohio Oil Co., the dominant .company in this area, and 
from John Kerens, Sullivan, the local gager for the Illinois Pipe Line Co. 
Some of the logs studied are given in the 38th (1!»13) Report of the State 

Geologist. 





































Composite log from Section 36, Fairbanks Township, in north central 
part of Heims’ Pool. Based on 5 logs for coals and on 16 logs for sand. 
Elevation of surface about 520 feet: 


Coal 6a top at. 

Coal 6 top at. 

Coal 5 top at. 

Coal 4 top at. 

Coal 3a top at. 

Coal 3 top at. 

Best oil (7 wells) 
Best oil (4 w T ells) 
Best oil (1 well ) 


175 to 

205 

feet. 

215 “ 

226 

a 

310 “ 

320 

a 

425 “ 

450 

a 

4S5 “ 

495 

u 

540 “ 

560 

u 

615 “ 

620 

ii 

661 “ 

709 “ 

681 

tt 


Composite log, Section 1. Turman Township, in central part of Heims’ 
Pool. Based on 11 logs for coals and 18 logs for sand. Elevation of sur¬ 
face about 530 feet: 


Coal 8 top at. 

Coal 7 top at. 

Coal 6a top at... 

Coal 6 top at. 

Coal 5a top at. 

Coal 5 top at. 

Coal 4 top at. 

Coal 3a top at. 

Coal 3 top at. 

Best oil (13 wells) 
Best oil ( 4 wells) 


.to 60 feet. 

110 “ 150 “ 

150 “ 205 “ 

225 “ . 

260 “ 280 “ 
305 “ 315 “ 

445 “ 470 “ 

480 “ . 

510 “ 565 “ 

622 “ 645 “ 

666 “ 675 “ 


Some gas found in coal 3 and above it and in coal 4. 


Log for N. y 2 , N. W. 14 , N. E. 14 , Section 12, Turman Township, south 
edge of Heims’ Pool. Elevation about 525 feet: 


Coal 6a . 173 to 178 feet. 

Coal 6 238 “ 240 “ 

Coal 4a :. 340 “ 345 “ 

Coal 4 470 “ 474 “ 

Sand (oil) . 640 “ 655 “ 


Went to 685 but found no more sand. 


Log of well 1 mile west of Heims’ Pool, in Section 3, Turman Township 
(T. 8 N., R. 10 W.) High ground about 500 feet: 


Coal 6 200 to 207 feet. 

Coal 5a . 250 “ 253 “ 

Coal 3a . 490 “ 495 “ 

Oil sand . 619 “ 634 “ 

Upper block coal or Minshall. 655 “ . 


Log of Emery Smith well No. 2, S. E. 14, Section 4, T. 8 N., R. 9 W., 
southwest of Shelburn, about 2 miles east of Heims’ Pool. Elevation of 


top of well, 540 feet: 

Gravel and quick sand.to 43 feet. 

Hard lime shell. “ 49 “ 

Gray sandstone r . “ 90 “ 








































Gray shale . 

White slate . 

Gray shale ... 

Light sand . 

Black slate .; 

Coal 6a . 

Fire clay . 

Brown shale . 

Sandstone . 

Brown slate. 

Hard lime shell. 

White slate . 

Sandy shale . 

Gray shale . 

White slate . 

Coal 5 . 

Black slate . 

White slate . 

Brown slate . 

Black slate . 

Coal 4a . 

Brown slate . 

Sandstone . 

Coal 4 . 

Gray shale . 

Brown shale . 

Lime shell . 

Sandy slate . 

Brown shale . 

Coal 3a and black slate. 

Gray shale . 

White slate . 

Brown slate . 

Coal 3 . 

Brown shale . 

Lime shell . 

Light slate . 

White chocolate sand. 

Black slate . 

Dark hard oil sand. 

Black slate . 

Total depth . 

Well abandoned July 5, 1919. 


to 120 feet 
“ 130 “ 

“ 165 “ 

“ 175 “ 

“ 179 “ 

“ 184 “ 

“ 202 “ 

“ 225 “ 

“ 230 “ 

“ 239 “ 

“ 244 “ 

“ 250 “ 

“ 265 “ 

“ 310 “ 

“ 335 “ 

“ 350 “ 

“ 355 “ 

“ 365 “ 

“ 380 “ 

“ 400 “ 

“ 405 “ 

“ 420 “ 

“ 433 “ 

“ 440 “ 

“ 445 “ 

“ 455 “ 

“ 460 “ 

“ 465 “ 

“ 475 “ 

“ 485 “ 

“ 495 “ 

“ 546 “ 

“ 551 “ 

“ 556 “ 

“ 580 “ 

“ 583 “ 

“ 600 “ 

“ 615 “ 

“ 622 “ 

“ 033 “ 

“ 643 “ 

“ 643 " 


Record of Wm. Scott well No. 1, N. W. 14 of S. E. 14 of Section 33, 
Township 9 N., R. 9 W., 2 miles east of Heims’ Pool. Elevation of sur¬ 
face about 540 feet: 

Gravel and sand.to 28 feet. 

Pink rock .1.-. “ 30 

Gray sandstone . “ 45 

















































Gray slate . 

Black slate . 

Fire clay . 

Sandy shale . 

Sandy shale . 

Coal 6a . 

Fire clay . 

Gray sandstone . 

Black slate . 

Coal 6 . 

Fire clay . 

Dark slate . 

Black slate . 

Gray shale. 

Hard lime shell. 

Coal 5a . 

Black slate . 

Light slate . 

Black slate . 

Coal 4a . 

Brown shale . 

Light slate ... 

Coal 4 . 

Brown shale . 

Black slate . 

Sandy shale . 

Gray shale . 

Black slate . 

Light slate . 

Gray shale . 

Hard dark sand lime 

Light slate . 

Gray slate . 

Black slate . 

Light brown sand. 

Dark sandy shale. 

Salt, sand and water 

Total depth . 

Well abandoned. 


to 70 feet 
“ 95 “ 

“ 105 “ 

“ 140 “ 

“ 172 “ 

“ 176 “ 

“ 186 “ 

“ 206 “ 

“ 216 “ 

“ 222 “ 

“ 226 “ 

“ 240 “ 

“ 260 “ 

“ 270 “ 

“ 275 “ 

“ 277 “ 

“ 320 “ 

“ 360 “ 

“ 380 “ 

“ 384 “ 

“ 440 “ 

“ 460 “ 

“ 466 “ 

“ 490 “ 

“ 505 “ 

“ 545 “ 

“ 570 “ 

“ 600 “ 

“ 620 “ 

“ 635 “ 

“ 665 “ 

“ 675 “ 

“ 690 “ 

“ 700 “ 

“ 710 “ 

“ 728 “ 

“ 730 “ 

“ 730 “ 


Record of Smith well No. 1, located in the S. E. % of the N. E. 14 of 
Section 4, Township 8 N., Range 9 W., Curry Township, 5 miles north of 
Heims’ Pool, 2 miles west of Farmersburg. Elevation above sea level at 
top of well about 530 feet: 


Drift . 

Soft sand . 

Hard shell . 

Red rock . 

Slate . 

Sandstone and water 


to 44 feet. 
“ 50 “ 

“ 55 “ 

“ 65 “ 

85 “ 

“ 90 “ 














































Gray slate . 

Brown slate . 

Coal No. 7 . 

Black slate . 

Sandstone . 

Brown slate . 

Coal 6a .. 

White slate . 

White slate .. 

Black slate, some gas. 

White slate . 

Sandstone . 

Hard shell . 

Hard lime shell. 

Black slate . 

Coal 6 . 

White slate . 

Brown slate . 

Coal 5 . 

Black slate . 

Coal 4a . 

Light slate . 

Sand and water. 

Water and sand. 

Black slate . 

Coal 4 . 

Brown slate . 

White slate . 

Gray slate . 

Hard shell . 

Coal 3a . 

Black slate . 

White slate . 

White sand . 

Brown slate . 

Coal 3 . 

Brown slate . 

Brown slate . 

Black slate or shale. 

Gray shale . 

Gray shale and coal. 

Lime shell . 

Gray shale and lime. 

Gray shale and lime.... 

Gray slate . 

Gray sandy shale. 

Oil sand, no production 


to 130 foci 


66 

66 

66 

66 

66 

66 

66 

6 6 

66 


66 

66 

6 6 

66 

6 6 

66 

66 

66 

66 

66 

66 

66 

66 

66 

6 6 

66 

66 

66 

66 

66 

66 

66 

66 

66 

66 

66 

66 

66 

6 6 

66 

6 6 

66 

66 

66 

66 

66 

66 


141 “ 

146 “ 

160 “ 
170 “ 

180 “ 
186 “ 
195 “ 

205 “ 

210 “ 
230 “ 

247 “ 

250 “ 

257 “ 

261 “ 
266 “ 
290 “ 

352 “ 

358 “ 

404 “ 

408 “ 

415 “ 

430 “ 

435 “ 

443 “ 

450 “ 

460 “ 

470 “ 

484 “ 

486 “ 

488 “ 

500 “ 

520 “ 

535 “ 

560 “ 

565 “ 

575 “ 

580 “ 

589 “ 

595 “ 

602 “ 
608 “ 
614 “ 

620 “ 
626 “ 
630 “ 

635 “ 


















































Composite log for Dodds’ Bridge Pool. Based on 8 logs in Sections 3, 4 
and 9, Turman Township. Elevation about 500 feet. Relief about 30 feet: 


Coal 6a top at. 170 to 183 feet. 

Coal 6 . “ 200 “ 

Coal 5a . 250 “ 260 “ 

Coal 5 . 305 “ 320 “ 

Coal 3a . 460 “ 490 “ 

Coal 3 . “ 550 “ 

Oil sand (slight production). “ 619 “ 

Coal Minshall (where, present).... 620 “ 636 “ 

Main oil sand (Minshall absent) 634 “ 656 “ 

Upper block . 643 “ 660 “ 

Oil sand . 656 “ 683 “ 

Lower block . “ 690 “ 

3rd oil sand. “ 730 “ 


Composite log for Harmon pool, Sections 28 and 33, Turman Township. 


Based on 6 logs. Elevation of surface about 480. 

Coal 8 (average 5 feet) top at . 85 feet. 

Coal 7 (3 feet) top at . 160 “ 

Coal 6 (5 feet) top at . 270 “ 

Coal 5a (4 feet) top at . 330 “ 

Coal 5 (5 feet) 3 wells . 360 “ 

Coal 4a (4 feet) . 380 to 385 “ 

Coal 4 (5 feet) . 440 “ 

Coal 3a (5 feet) . 580 “ 

Coal 3 (5 feet) 2 wells . 600 “ 

Slate sand (first oil sand) . 620 “ 

Minshall coal, 6 feet . 629 “ 642 “ 

2nd oil sand (95 barrel well) . 740 “ 

Main oil sand . 767 “ 780 “ 

4th oil sand (75 barrel well) . 818 “ 

Composite log for Scott pool, based on 10 logs in Sections 31 and 36, 
Turman Township. Average elevation of surface about 530. Relief in 
pool about 20 feet. 


Coal 8 top at. 

Coal 7 (5 feet) top at 
Coal 6a (4 feet) top at 
Coal 6 (5 feet) top at 
Coal 5 (6 feet) top at 
C ^al 4 (5 feet) top at 
G'al 3 (5 feet) top at 
U ">per Block (4 feet) 
Lower Block (3 feet) 
Oil sand, top of . 


80 to 90 
95 “ 115 
170 “ 172 
255 “ 290 
320 “ 348 

440 “ . 

560 “ 585 
680 
700 

730 “ 775 


feet. 




Composite log for Edwards pool and vicinity, in Sections 3, 9, 10 and 16. 
Gill Township. Based on 7 fairly detailed logs. Elevation of surface 
about 480 feet. 


Coal 8 (3 feet) top at . 80 to 90 feet. 

Coal 7 (2 feet) top at ... 107 “ 110 “ 











































239 


V4 


715 “ 

756 “ 

785 “ 

822 “ 

900 “ 

Section 3, Gill 

80 feet. 

82 “ 


Coal 6a (5 feet) top at . 210 if present. 

Coal 6 (4 feet) top at . 230 to 245 feet. 

Coal 5a (5 feet) top at . 285 if present. 

Coal 5 (4 feet) top at . 330 to 340 feet. 

Gas sand, top at . 375 “ 385 “ 

Coal 4a (1 foot) . 421 “ 

Gas sand (coal 4 level) . 460 “ 

Coal 2 (5 feet) . 585 “ 

Coal 2 ? (5 feet) where presei t . 605 “ 

Heims’ pool oil sand top at . 630 to 640 feet. 

Minshall (5 feet) . 660 “ 685 “ 

Upper Block (5 feet) . 

Scott pool oil sand . 740 

3rd oil sand . 770 

4th oil sand .1. 820 

Salt sand . 884 

Log of wells 9 and 10, G. W. Buff farm, N. W. S. W. 

Township, near N. E. Corner of F dwards pool. 

Clay and shale .to 

Coal 8 . 80 “ 

Shale . 82 “ 

Hard shell . 240 “ 

Coal 6 . 245 “ 

Shale . 251 

Coal 5 with some gas . 330 

Shale . 336 

Limestone . 400 

Shale and mud . 408 

Sand with water . 500 

Shale and mud . 522 

.First salt sand, some oil. 640 

Limestone . 575 

Coal, Minshall .- 685 

Dark shale . 690 

Coal, upper block. 715 

Dark shale . 720 

3rd oil sand . 756 

Dark shale . 770 

4th lower oil sand . 785 

Dark shale . 805 

Note: Well No. 9 got 10 barrels production at 756 sand, 
found merely a show of oil there, but got production at 785. 
is 444 feet east of well No. 9. 

Township 8 North, Range 10 West. 


“ 240 
“ 245 
“ 251 
“ 330 
“ 336 
“ 400 
“ 408 
“ 500 
“ 522 
“ 640 
“ 675 
“ 685 
“ 690 
“ 715 
“ 720 
“ 756 
“ 770 
“ 785 
“ 805 
“ 817 


Well No. 10 
Well No. 10 


Chastine No. 2 

10 inch drive pipe . 

Salt sand . 

Coal . 


61 feet. 
300 to 350 “ 

465 “ 470 “ 













































240 


8 inch casing . 550 feet 

Salt sand . 560 “ 600 “ 

6*4 inch casing . 750 “ 

Oil sand . 786 “ 

Total depth .. . 800 “ 

Bell No. 4 

10-inch pipe . 42 feet. 

Coal . 446 to 450 “ 

8 inch casing . 350 “ 

614 inch casing . 629 “ 

Oil sand . 786 “ 

Total depth . 797 “ 

McClure No. 4 

10 inch drive pipe . 32 feet. 

Coal . 465 to 471 “ 

8 inch casing . 540 “ 

Salt sand . 560 “ 740 “ 

614 inch casing . 775 “ 

Oil sand . 796 “ 

Total depth . 806 “ 

Well No. 2 on Oscar Hunt farm, Sullivan County: 

From top of surface, red clay.to 42 feet. 

Dark mud . 80 “ 

Coal . 84 “ 

Mud and shale. 120 “ 

Sand and some water. 180 “ 

Hard limestone shell. 190 “ 

Dark mud . 220 “ 

Sandy and hard material. 260 “ 

Coal . 265 “ 

White and black mud. 340 “ 

Coal . 345 “ 

White mud . 350 “ 

Hard shell . 355 “ 

Dark and white mud. 465 “ 

Limestone shell—hard . 475 “ 

White and dark mud. 525 “ 

Coal . 530 “ 

Dark shale . 560 “ 

Sand with some water and nice show¬ 
ing of oil.,. 600 “ 

Coal with plenty of water. 605 “ 

Dark shale . 625 “ 

Sand—hard . 635 “ 

Dark shale . 685 “ 

Coal and gas water flowing out of hole 690 “ 

Dark shale . 730 “ 

Top of oil sand. 752 “ 













































Broken sand and shale. 775 feet 

Oil sand ... 780 “ 

Dark shale . 800 “ 

Total depth of well. 800 feet. 

10 in. pipe. 42 feet. 

814 in. pipe. 355 “ 

614 in. pipe. 721 “ 


SWITZERLAND COUNTY 

The following strata outcrop in Switzerland County: 


["Recent—Alluvial sands and clays. 

Quaternary. J 

^Pleistocene—Glacial gravel, sand and till. 

Silurian. Limestones and shales. 

Ordovician. Shales and limestones. 


The glacial deposits vary in thickness from a few feet to fifty. Many 
outcrops of the bed rock occur. It is possible that the structural condi¬ 
tions may be determined by surficial observations. The outcrop of the 
Trenton in the eastern part of the county precludes the possibility of 
securing oil from that formation in that locality but in the western part 
of the county where the thickness of the overlying formations is adequate, 
oil may be present in the Trenton if the proper structural conditions 
exist. 

The following is the record of a well drilled at Vevay: 

Record of Well Drilled Near Vevay. 

Surface, soil and clay. 60 feet. 

Limestone shell and shale, 6 inches thick alternating. 105 “ 

Limestone . 75 “ 

Layers of shale and limestone 5 feet thick alternating.... 60 “ 

Dark hard limestone. 22 

Shale, soft . 1 

Limestone, very hard and full of salt water. 32 


Total depth . 355 feet. 


TIPPECANOE COUNTY 

Beneath the Pleistocene and Recent deposits of this county lie the 
strata of the New Albany division of the Devonian which occupies the 
northeast portion of the county and the Knobstone division of the Miss- 
issippian. The contact between the two formations is revealed between 
the Wabash River and West Lafayette by an outcrop of Goniatite lime¬ 
stone which lies at the base of the Knobstone just above the unconformity 
between the Devonian and the Mississippian. Small outcrops of the War¬ 
saw occur near Montmorenci, but the number is too small to be of much 
service in determining structural conditions. The Pleistocene deposits 
vary in thickness from a. few feet to more than one bundled, feet. The 




















mantle of glacial drift is everywhere so complete that little can be learned 
of stratigraphical or structural features of the bed rock. If oil structures 
are present in the county, they can be outlined only by the use of sub¬ 
surface data derived from the records of deep wells, and to be of value the 
wells should be located within less than a mile of each other as the struc¬ 
tures will probably be small. 

A well drilled at Lafayette reached the top of the Niagara limestone at 
235 feet. The top of the Trenton should be reached at about 1100 feet. 

Railroad Elevations. 

Clark’s Hill 818.6; Stockwell 810; Crane 736; Altamount 645; Lafayette 
542 (Monon Sta.); Dayton 647.1; Summit 608; Balls 697; Montmorenci 
692. 


TIPTON COUNTY 

Tipton County lies within the glaciated area and is covered with glacial 
drift varying in thickness from 50 to 150 feet. The drift rests on the 
Silurian and Devonian limestones. The surface of the Trenton lies from 
about sea level to 150 feet below. 

Cicero Township. Three wells were drilled at Tipton, and the record of 
No. 1 is given below: 

Drift . 139 feet. 

Limestone . 326 “ 

Shale . 532 “ 

Trenton limestone, gas 11 ft., oil 3 ft., 

water 19 ft. 33 “ 


Total .1030 feet. 

Altitude of well. 868 “ 


Well on the R. H. Foster farm, N. E. corner of the S. y 2 of S. x / 2 of 
N. W. 14 of Section 30, Twp. 22, R. 4 E. Cicero Twp. 


Top of sand.1002 feet. 

Drilled in sand. 14 “ 

Total depth .1016 “ 

Casing used . 503 “ 

Drive pipe . 147 “ 

Dry hole. 


Wells drilled in Sections 20 and 28 were abandoned in 1911. 


Madison Township. At Hobbs gas was obtained and the first well has 


the following log: 

Drift . 134 feet. 

Limestone . 330 “ 

Shale and limestone. 5291 “ 

Trenton limestone . 131 “ 


Total depth .1007 feet. 

Altitude of well. 875 “ 


A well drilled in Section 19 was abandoned in 1911. 




















24:3 


Wild Cat Township. At Windfall the Trenton was reached at 937 feet 
and salt water at 1002 feet. Wells drilled in Sections 8, 17, 18, 20, and 31 
were abandoned in 1911 and 1919. 

Liberty Township. At Sharpsville gas was obtained from wells in which 


the following strata were encountered: 

Drift . 70 feet. 

Limestone . 460 “ 

Shale . 432 “ 

Trenton limestone ... 8 “ 


Total . 970 feet. 

Well drilled N. of the S. W. corner of Section 19, T. 22 N. R. 4. E., on 
the S. J. Smith farm: 

Top of sand.1008 feet. 

Depth drilled in sand. 18 ‘ 

Total depth of well.....1026 “ 

Dry hole. 


Abandoned wells occur in this township as follows: Section 1, 1 well; 
Section 5, 2 wells; Section 13, 1 well; Section 18, 2 wells; Section 22, 1 
well; Section 23, 1 well; Section 31, 1 well; Section 35, 1 well; Section 
36, 1 well. 

Jefferson Township. At Kempton the upper surface of the Trenton is 
93 feet below sea level. The log of the Kempton well follows: 


Drift . 306 feet. 

Limestone . 293 “ 

Shale . 424 “ 

Trenton limestone . 12 “ 


Total depth .1035 feet. 

Altitude of well. 930 “ 


A well drilled in Section 9 was abandoned in 1913 and one in Section 20 
in 1912. 

Prairie Township. Wells have been abandoned in this township as fol¬ 
lows: Section 2, 2 wells; Section 10, 1 well; Section 15, 1 well; Section 
16, 1 well; Section 22, 1 well; Section 23, 1 well; Section 24, 2 wells; 
Section 26, 1 well; Section 28, 1 well; Section 32, 1 well; Section 33, 1 
well; Section 34, 3 wells. 


UNION COUNTY 

Strata of Ordovician and Silurian age form the bedrock of this county. 
The Silurian rocks have been removed from all except the northeastern 
part of the county. The thickness of the Ordovician rocks is about 800 
feet. The overlying drift has a thickness of from twenty-five to seventy- 
five feet. Since the drift is not as thick as in other counties and outcrops 
of the bed rock are more numerous it may be possible by detailed work 
to determine the structural conditions in this county. 


















244 


The record of a well drilled at Liberty is given by Phinney as follows: 


Drift . 70 feet. 

Limestone (Hudson River). 15 “ 

Grayish shale . 450 “ 

Dark shale . 356 “ 

Gray Trenton limestone. 25 “ 

Blue Trenton limestone. 55 “ 

Total depth . 971 feet. 

Altitude of well. 965 “ 


Gas was reported in small quantities from the Hudson River shale but 
none in the Trenton. 

The surface of the Trenton is probably more than 100 feet above sea 
level in the southwestern part of the county and descends to sea level 
in the northeastern part. 

Railroad Elevations. 

Cottage Grove 1,039, Kitchell 1,096, Wilts 1,119, Loties 1,039, Liberty 
980, Brownsville 793. 


VANDERBURGH COUNTY 

Vanderburgh County lies within the unglaciated area of the State. The 
strata which outcrop in the county belong to the Pennsylvanian period. 
The rocks consist of sandstones, shales, and limestones with intercalated 
beds of coal. The southern part of the county is occupied by the alluvium 
of the Ohio River valley and outcrops of the bed rock are not found. It 
is doubtful whether a sufficient number of outcrops of persistent layers 
can be found to determine structural conditions. It may be possible to 
use well records, mine shaft records, and outcrops and thus determine the 
structural conditions of the strata. Care should be exercised in using the 
dip of the rocks of the coal measures to discriminate between purely local 
dips which are so abundant, and dips of regional extent. 

The following is the record of a well drilled on the east bank of Pidgeon 
Creek near Evansville: 


Section in Crescent City Artesian Well. 

Soapstone . 31 

Gray sandstone . 2 

Soapstone and shale. 37 

Very hard gray sandstone. 1 

Slaty coal . 1 

Shale . 6 

Gray shale or sandstone. 44 

Soft shale . 11 

Soft gray sandstone. 18 

Hard dark sandstone. 5 

Gray flint . 2 

Dark gray sandstone. 62 

Salt water . 


feet. 


6 in. 
6 “ 


6 “ 


6 “ 























245 


Hard black shale (coal?). 

Gray sandstone . 

Flint . 

Hard gray shale. 

Hard argillacious sandstone. 

Gray shales (soapstone). 

Coal (L?) .’ 

Gray shale and sandstone. 

Dark sandstone with salt water flowing seven 

gallons per minute, 3 degrees Baume. 

Hard pure sandstone, conglomerate. 

Coal and slate. 

Soapstone . 

Coal (A?) and slate. 

Fire clay . 


73 feet. 
65 “ 

6 “ 

5 “ 

34 “ 

55 “ 

1 “ 
134 “ 

5 “ 

50 “ 

10 “ 

1 “ 


6 in. 


6 “ 


6 “ 
6 “ 


Surface 


682 feet. 
17 “ 


Total . 709 feet. 

Section in Avondale Bore. 

Surface . 9 feet, 6 in. 

Blue clay . 30 “ 6 “ 

Gray sand . 2 “ 6 “ 

Blue mud, quick sand. 22 “ 3 “ 

Gravel, sand and shells. 6 “ 

Fire clay and sand. 28 “ 3 “ 

Gravel and sand. 1 “ 

Sandstone *. 2 “ 

Fire clay . 2 “ 9 “ 

Sandstone . 11 “ 

Fire clay . 7 “ 9 “ 

Sandstone . 7 “ 

Fire clay with pebbles. 2 “ 8 “ 

Silicious clay . 1 “ 

Sandstone with iron balls. 72 “ 

Concretion . 1 “ 10 “ 

Sandstone . 36 “ 10 

Rock slate . 6 

Black slate . 2 “ 10 

Coal . 4 “ 


Total . 256 feet, 9 in. 

Section of Inglefield Bore. 

Surface clay . 10 feet. 

Red Merom sandstone. 36 

Carbonaceous parting, coal... 4 In. 

Hard flinty limestone. 4 

Clay parting, second rash coal. 1 8 



















































24 G 


Flinty gray limestone. 6 feet, in 

Light gray sandstone. 20 “ 

Soft white limestone. 8 “ 

Soapstone, first rash coal. 16 “ 3 “ 

Shale . 20 “ 

Gray flinty limestone. 3 “ 2 “ 

Soapstone . 26 “ 

White limestone . 30 “ 

Gray shale . 20 “ 

Fire clay ... 10 “ 

Coal (N?) . 1 “ 6 “ 

Fire clay . 4 “ 

Gray shale . 10 “ 

Soap stone . 28 “ 

Sandstone . 3 “ 

Black slate . 2 “ 

Sandstone . 17 “ 


Total . 276 feet, 5 in. 


Scott Township. A well was drilled on the John M. Hart farm in 1913; 
it resulted in no production. A well drilled on the R. Cutter farm in 1918 
was non-productive. Records of the wells could not be obtained. 


VERMILLION COUNTY 

Vermillion County lies wholly within the area occupied by the Penn 
sylvanian strata, the outcrop of which is covered by the Pleistocene and 
Recent deposits. These deposits of mantle rock attain a thickness of 
more than one hundred feet. This regolith has been largely removed 
along the courses of the streams and outcrops of the durolith occur. It 
may be possible, that by using these outcrops in connection with coal 
openings and the records of wells, to determine the structural conditions 
of the bed rock, though careful work will be necessary and much time 
required. 

The surface of the Trenton is probably 1600 or more feet below the level 
of the sea. If structures are present oil may be found in Trenton, De¬ 
vonian or Pennsylvanian strata. 

Railroad Elevations. 

Cayuga 522; State Line (T., St. L. & W.) 626; Rileysburg 646; Gessie 
616; Perrysville 582; Dickason 526; Malone 507; Walnut Grove 528; 
Newport 496; Dorner 510; Worthy 489; Mt. Silica 492; West Montezuma 
488; Hillsdale 488; Logan 496; Summit Grove 520; Norton Crossing 493; 
Jackson 495; Clinton 494. 























Fig. 61. Map of Vigo County, showing oil fields and location of some of the wells. 


t/jM 



































































































































































VIGO COUNTY 

Strata belonging to the Pennsylvanian period occupy the sub-surface 
in Vigo County. The rocks are sandstones, shales, and limestones with 
intercalated beds of coal. A covering of glacial drift largely conceals the 


outcrop 

of the durolith, the thickness of the ' 

latter varying from 

a few 

feet to 

more than cne hundred 

feet. The structural 

conditions 

of the 

durolith 

can probably be determined by using coals 

IV and V ; 

as key 

horizons 

and relying on data secured from well 

records 

and coal outcrops 

for the position of these beds. 





Harrison Township. Oil has been produced from a single well in 

Terre 

Haute for more than thirty years. The following is the record of 

a well 

drilled on the bank of the river at Terre Haute 

in 1869: 

1 



Record of 

Terre Haute Well. 





Feet. 

Inches 

Feet Inches 

1. 

Sand and gravel. 

... 100 


100 


2. 

Soapstone .. 

. 64 

6 

164 

6 

3. 

Coal ... 

. 6 

2 

170 

8 

4. 

Hard sandstone . 

. 2 

3 

172 

11 

5. 

Soapstone . 

. 10 


182 

11 

6. 

Coal . 

. 3 


185 

11 

7. 

Soapstone . 

. 4 

3 

190 

2 

8. 

Gray sandstone ... 

. 5 

10 

196 


9. 

Blue soapstone . 


10 

196 

10 

10. 

Gray sandstone . 


6 

197 

4 

11. 

Blue soapstone . 

. 12 

9 

210 

1 

12. 

Soft black shale. 

. 6 


216 

1 

13. 

Coal ... 


9 

216 

10 

14. 

Soapstone . 

. 7 

7 

224 

5 

15. 

White sandstone (conglomerate).. 30 

3 

254 

8 

16. 

Blue shale . 

. 7 

2 

261 

10 

17. 

Coal . 

. 2 

3 

264 

1 

18. 

Black shale . 

. 10 


274 

1 

19. 

White soapstone . 

. 3 


277 

1 

20. 

Black shale . 

. 15 


292 

1 

21. 

White soapstone . 

. 8 


300 

1 

22. 

Black shale . 

3 

3 

303 

4 

23. 

Coal .. 

. 3 


306 

4 

24. 

Soapstone . 

. 17 

8 

324 


25. 

Sand rock . 

3 


327 


26. 

Soapstone . 

. 20 


347 


27. 

Sand rock . 

. 10 


357 


28. 

Blue shale . 

. 22 


379 


29. 

Limestone . 

2 


381 


30. 

Blue shale . 

. 31 


412 


31. 

Light shale . 

. 5 


417 


32. 

Blue shale . 

. 60 


477 


33. 

Sandstone . 

. 7 


484 



'Report of Indiana State Geological Survey for 1870. 



































248 


Feet. Inches Feet 


34. Blue shale . 24 508 

35. Sandstone . 3 511 

36. White shale . 10 521 

37. Blue shale ... 147 668 

38. Hard gritty slate rock. 11 7 679 

39. Hard gray sandstone. 14 5 694 

40. Hard limestone . 11 705 

41. White limestone . 24 729 

42. Gray limestone . 2 731 

43. Limestone . 14 745 

44. White limestone . 82 827 

45. Soapstone . 3 830 

46. Brown limestone . 35 865 

47. Soapstone .,. 5 870 

48. Lime rock . 9 879 

49. Soapstone . 6 885 

50. White limestone . 7 892 

51. Soapstone or Gypsum?. 2 894 

52. White limestone . 21 915 

53. Gray limestone . 5 920 

54. Limestone and soapstone. 5 925 

55. Gray limestone . 5 930 

56. White limestone . 15 945 

57. Fine blue limestone. 2 947 

58. Dark gray limestone and flint. 73 1020 

59. Light gray limestone. 7 1027 

60. Blue gray limestone. 7 1034 

61. Soapstone (fire clay). 26 1060 

62. Gray limestone . 24 1084 

63. Gray sandstone . 3 1087 

64. Soapstone (fire clay). 5 1092 

G5. Quartz and shale mixed. 166 1258 

66. Quartz, slate and soapstone. 3 1261 

67. Slate rock . 21 1282 

68. Soapstone . 33 1315 

69. Slate rock . 7 1322 

70. Soapstone . 235 1557 

71. Soapstone and sandstone. 10 1567 

72. Fine sandstone . 15 1582 

73. Blue soapstone . 40 1622 

74. Black shale . 15 1637 

75. Red shale . 5 1642 

76. Black shale . 15 1657 

77. Lime rock . 5 1662 

78. Black shale . 5 1667 

79. Gray lime rock, oil near top. 149 1816 

80. Gray sand rock. 23 1839 

81. Lime rock . 73 4 1912 


Inches 


7 


4 


















































249 


In discussing the geology of Y r igo County in the annual report of the 

Indiana Survey for 1896, Dr. J. T. Scovell publishes the following well 
records: 


Swan Street Well on Banks of Wabash. 

Sand, gravel sandstone, shale and limestone .1110 feet. 

Limestone . 450 

Shale . 50 

Limestone . ; . 3 

Oil Sand and Oil. 

Limestone . 967 feet. 

Shale . 400 

Limestone (perhaps Trenton). 

Section of Kinser Well. 

Located between Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets just east of the 
center of section 22-12-9 near Liberty avenue. 


1110 

feet. 

1110 

fee*,. 

. 450 

u 

1560 

*« 

. 50 

a 

1610 

66 

3 

a 

1613 

66 

967 

feet. 

2580 

feet. 

. 100 

u 

2680 

66 

. 250 

66 

2930 

66 


Soil, gravel and sand...... 

. 80 

feet. 

80 

Shale or soapstone. 

. 70 

66 

150 

Sandstone . 


66 

160 

Shale ... 

90 

66 

250 

Sandstone . 

. 70 

66 

320 

Shale or slate. 

. 130 

66 

450 

Sandstone . 

. 140 

66 

590 

Limestone . 

. 360 

66 

950 

Limestone with some shale. ... 

. 185 

66 

1135 

Limestone with quartz. 

. 85 

66 

1220 

Shale . 

. 25 

66 

1245 

Limestone with shale. 

. 225 

66 

1470 

Shale or soapstone. 

. 5 

66 

1475 

Sandstone or limestone. . 

. 15 

66 

1490 

Shale or soapstone. 

. 138 

6 6 

1628 

Limestone or oil rock.. 

. 20 

66 

1648 


A little oil was present near the surface of the limestone. To reduce 
these records and the following to the level of the river fifty feet was 
deducted from the thickness of the first stratum. 

Section of the Big Four Well. 

Located in the northeast corner of the northwest quarter of Section 
23-12-9. 


Soil . 

Gravel .... 

6 

10 

feet. 

66 


Sand ... 

102 

66 

68 

Shale . 

117 

66 

185 

Sandstone or limestone.... 

2 

66 

187 

Shale . 

Salt water at 78 feet below the top of shale. 

207 

66 

394 

Limestone or sandstone. 

41 

66 

435 

Shale or slate. 

50 

66 

485 

Limestone or sandstone. 

12 

66 

497 

Shale or slate.. 

53 

66 

550 




































Sandstone . 50 feet. 600 feet. 

Limestone . 600 “ 1200 " 

Shale with some limestone. 190 “ 1390 “ 

Shale or slate. 210 “ 1600 “ 

Limestone, oil rock sulphur water. 18 “ 1618 “ 


Section of Exchange Well. 

Situated a little west of the center of Section 22-12-9: 


Soil and coarse gravel. 

Sand fine ... 

Shale and slate. 

Coal at 22 feet below the top of shale. 

Limestone .. 

Shale . 

Limestone . 

Shale . 

Limestone . 

Shale . 

Limestone . 

Shale . 

Limestone, hard and flinty. 

Shale . 

Limestone . 

Limestone with sand. 

Sandstone . 

Limestone . 

Sandstone . 

Limestone . 

Shale . 

Sandstone, white ... 

Sandstone and shale. 

Sandstone, white ... 

Shale ...... 

Limestone—oil rock . 

Show of oil at 1575 and sulphur at 1578 feet. 

Alden Well. 

On northwest quarter of Section 23-12-9: 

Sand and gravel. 

Shale . 

Limestone . 

Shale . 

Sandstone . 

Shale . 

Sandstone . 

Limestone . 

Sandstone . 

Shale with sand. 


80 

feet. 

30 

45 

a 

75 

65 

a 

140 

5 

«i 

145 

95 

a 

240 

10 

a 

250 

40 

a 

290 

20 

a 

310 

210 

a 

520 

23 

a 

543 

10 

a 

553 

82 

a 

635 

5 

a 

640 

160 

a 

800 

70 

a 

870 

30 

a 

900 

25 

a 

925 

65 

a 

990 

30 

a 

1020 

180 

a 

1200 

50 

a 

1250 

50 

a 

1300 

150 

a 

1450 

122 

a 

1572 

11 

a 

1583 


130 feet. 

80 

110 “ 

190 

20 “ 

210 

300 “ 

510 

10 “ 

520 

30 “ 

550 

160 “ 

710 

300 “ 

1010 

90 “ 

1100 

132 “ 

1232 


Salt water at 525 feet and between 600 and 


700 feet. 



















































251 


Section of the Elliott Well. 

Near west line ot section 23 and Wabash avenue, Terre Haute. 
Sand and gravel. 128 

Shale . 260 

Sandstone . 35 

Limestone . 40 

Sandstone .. 

Limestone . *23 

Sandstone . 479 

Shale . HO 

The Smith well drilled near the southwest corner 
and Tenth street, southwest of the south we 
oil-bearing limestone at 1632 feet. 



feet. 

78 

feet. 


44 

338 

4 4 


44 

373 

« 


4 4 

413 

41 


44 

511 

44 


a 

534 

n 


44 

713 

a 


44 

823 

44 

corner 

of Wabash avenue 

section 

22-12-9 

reached the 


The Guarantee No. 3 between Eighth and Ninth streets, near Wabash 
avenue reached oil rock at 1569 feet. 

The Guarantee No. 4 between Wabash avenue and Chestnut street on 
Tenth-Half street reached sulphur water at 1590 feet. 


The Guarantee No. 5 near southwest corner South Fifth and Farrington 
streets southeast of the northeast section 28-12-9 reached oil sand at 1700 
feet. 


Section of Guarantee Well No. 6. 

Northeast corner Third and Mulberry streets, northwest Vi-of the south¬ 
east % section 21-12-9. 


Soil, gravel and sand. 

.. 128 

feet. 

78 

Shale . 

. 44 

44 

122 

Coal . 

. 5 

44 

• 127 

Shales and sandstone. 

. 308 

44 

435 

Limestone . 

.. 40 

4 4 

475 

Shale, blue and black. 

. 90 

4 4 

565 

Limestones .. 

. 415 

44 

980 

Limestone, coarse . 

. 25 

44 

1005 

Shale with some limestone. 

. 55 

44 

1060 

Shale with some limestone. 

. 40 

44 

1100 

Limestone with some shale. 

. 320 

i 1 

1420 

Shale ... 

. 25 

44 

1445 

Limestone .. 

. 9 

44 . 

1454 

Shale . 

. 43 

4 4 

1497 

Black shale, lime shell. 

. 72 

44 

1569 

Coarse shale . 

. 9 

4 4 

1578 

Limestone, black . 

. 20 

44 

1598 


Salt water at 800 feet, gas at 925, 160 and 1100 feet, sulphur water at 
1598 feet. 

Guarantee No. 1 (Diall well) located on the alley between Chestnut and 
Eagle streets and between Ninth and Tenth was drilled to oil on May 8 , 
1888. Oil rose fifty feet above the surface, ‘'flowed out over the whole 
region into the sewer and down to the river and its villainous odor filled 
the air for squares.” 

The Phenix well was drilled 300 feet south between Eagle and Mulberry 
streets and became a good producer. 



























Guarantee No. 3 near Wabasli avenue between Eighth and Ninth streets 
also produced some oil. The productive area is very small. Wells were 
drilled in all directions from the productive wells but yielded water only. 

Riley Township. The Riley oil field is located southeast of the town of 
Riley in section 23 and 24. Oil has been produced from about twenty-five 
wells. The largest initial production is about twenty-five barrels per day. 
The locations of the producing wells on the accompanying map were made 
by Dr. C. A. Malott. 

Joslin Well Record. 

A well was completed October 7, 1912 on the Charles N. Joslin farm, 
Section 23, Township 11, North, Range 8 West, Riley Township, Vigo 
County, Indiana, by Bill Brothers. The following is a complete log of the 


well: 

Clay . 12 feet. 

Sand rock to 21 feet. 9 “ 

Lime to 40 feet. 19 “ 

Slate to 76 feet. 36 “ 

10" pipe . 76 “ 

Lime to 85 feet. 9 “ 

Brown shale to 120 feet. 35 “ 

Sand rock to 180 feet. 60 “ 

Coal to 182 feet. 2 “ 

Brown shale to 196 feet. 14 “ 

Lime to 210 feet. 14 “ 

Slate to 240 feet. 30 " 

Lime to 248 feet. 8 “ 

Slate to 275 feet. 27 “ 

White sand (water) to 290 feet. 15 “ 

Slate to 340 feet. 50 “ 

Lime to 355 feet. 15 “ 

Slate to 390 feet. 35 “ 

Salt sand (more water) to 420 feet. 30 “ 

Slate to 450 feet. 30 “ 

Lime to 465 feet. 15 “ 

Slate to 490 feet. 25 “ 

White sand to 560 feet. 70 “ 

Slate to 620 feet. 80 “ 

Lime to 625 feet... 5 “ 

Salt sand to 645 feet. 20 “ 

Lime to 660 feet. 15 “ 

Hard lime to 710 feet. 50 “ 

S 1 /^" casing . 663 “ 

White lime with small break 750 feet.... 40 “ 

Hard lime to 820 feet. 70 “ 

White lime to 990 feet. 170 “ 

Slate and shells to 1060 feet. 70 “ 

Slate to 1100 feet. 40 “ 

Lime to 1115 feet..:.. 15 “ 

Slate to 1160 feet. 45 “ 






































253 


Lime to 1170 feet. 10 fe e t. 

Slate to 1220 feet. 50 “ 

Lime to 1230 feet. 10 “ 

Slate to 1250 feet. 20 “ 

Black slate to 1290 feet. 40 “ 

Lime to 1310 feet. 20 “ 

Slate to 1370 feet. 60 “ 

Lime to 1380 feet. 10 “ 

Slate to 1440 feet.60 “ 

Lime to 1445 feet. 5 “ 

Slate to 1455 feet. 10 “ 

Lime shell to 1458 feet. 3 “ 

Slate to 1507 feet. 49 “ 

6%" casing .1507 “ 

Lime to 1520 feet. 13 “ 

Slate and shells to 1555 feet. 35 “ 

Brown shale to 1615 feet. 60 “ 

Lime to 1617 feet.<. 2 “ 

Slate to 1619 feet.... 2 “ 

Sand or cap rock to 1621 feet. 2 “ 

First oil to 1623 feet. ; ..... 2 “ 

Light brown shale to 1625 feet.2 “ 

Lark brown sand to 1629 feet. 4 " 

Light and lime sand to 1631. 2 “ 

Gray shelly sand to 1637 feet. 6 “ 

Light shelly sand to 1641 feet. 4 “ 

Oil only in one place 1621 to 1625. 


Linton Township. A deep well was drilled in this township just west 
of Pimento in section 14. No production was obtained. A well was also 
drilled in section 1 of this township without favorable results. Many 
wells in this township have been drilled to coal V, which is penetrated at 
depths ranging from 320 feet to 500 feet. 

Sugar Creek Township. The record of a well drilled at St. Mary’s-in- 
the-Wood on the northeastern quarter, southwestern quarter, Section 6 - 
12-9 is given by Scovell as follows: 

Total 
Feet Feet 


Surface soil and yellow clay. 20 

Blue clay . 55 

Blue clay and quicksand. 25 Low water 

White shale . 25 25 

Coal, probably coal “N”. 5 30 

White shale—fire clay and shale. 65 95 

Coal, probably coal “M”. 6 101 

White shale—fire clay and shale. 90 191 

Coal, probably “L”, the big vein. 10 201 

Fire clay and white shale. 50 251 

White sand rock. 40 291 








































254 


Total 
Feet Feet 


White shale . 229 520 

Sandstone . 80 600 

Limestone . 490 1090 

Fresh water at 730 feet. 

Shale . 50 1140 

Brown sandstone . 20 1160 

White shale . 250 1410 

Limestone and sandstone. 180 1590 

Brown shale . 115 1705 

Limestone . 250 1955 


Sulphur water at 1905 feet, but no show of oil or 
gas reported. 


WABASH COUNTY 

The bed rock strata in this county belong to the Silurian period. The 
drift overlying varies from 25 to 300 feet and conceals the bed rock strata 
to such an extent that stratigraphical and structural conditions are diffi¬ 
cult to determine. The surface of the Trenton lies from 100 to 400 feet 
below sea level. The total thickness of the Niagara in this county is 
probably about 450 feet. The following are records of wells drilled at 


Wabash: 2 

Drift . 36 feet. 

Bluish limestone . 54 “ 

White limestone . 20 “ 

Bluish limestone varying to green. 140 “ 

Whitish limestone . 30 “ 

Bluish limestone . 60 “ 

Bluish green Niagara shale. 35 “ 

Bluish gray limestone (Clinton). 20 “ 

Hudson River limestones and shales. 205 “ 

Utica shale . 280 “ 

Trenton limestone (salt water). 7 “ 


Total depth . 887 feet. 

Altitude of well. 6S0 “ 

Section of Well No. 2. 

Drift . 28 feet. 

Niagara limestone and shale. 525 “ 

Hudson River and Utica. 325 “ 

Trenton limestone . 54 “ 


Total depth . 932 feet. 

Trenton below sea level... 19S “ 

Did not yield gas nor oil. 


Record of a well drilled at North Manchester : 2 



































255 


The following is the log of a well drilled in S. W. % of Section 34. 
Liberty township. Drilled in 1903: 


Drive pipe . 202 feet. 

Casing . 470 “ 

Top of Trenton. 945 “ 

Total depth . 965 « 


A log of a well drilled at LaFountaine is given below: 


Section of Well No. 1. 


Drift . 300 feet. 

Niagara limestone . 225 “ 

Hudson River limestone and shale.... 175 “ 

Utica shale . 200 • “ 

Trenton limestone . 23 “ 


Total depth . 

Trenton below sea level.... 

Yielded strong flow of gas. 

Section of Well No. 1. 

Drift .. 

Niagara limestone and shales. 

Hudson River limestone and shales 

Utica shale . 

Trenton limestone .. 

Total depth .. 

Trenton below sea level. 

Yielded no gas. 


923 feet. 


6 


(( 


... 274 

feet. 

... 300 

u 

... 250 

u 

... 306 

a 

... 50 

it 

...1180 

a 

... 365 

66 


WARREN COUNTY 

The bed rock formations which have been recognized by direct observa¬ 
tion belong to the Knobstone, Harrodsburg (Warsaw), Salem, Mitchell 
and Chester Divisions of the Mississippian and the Mansfield (Pottsville) 
and coal measures (Allegheny) divisions of the Pennsylvanian. Over- 
lying these formations are Pleistocene and Recent deposits of sand clay 
and gravel. The mantle rock or drift attains a thickness of more than 
two hundred feet. The Pennsylvanian rocks attain a thickness of about 
225 feet, the Mississippian of about 110 feet; and the Devonian of about 
525 feet. Devonian and Trenton strata which may be productive of oil 
and gas, if the proper geological structures exist, lie below the formations 
mentioned above. The surface of the Trenton lies probably from 1500 to 
1800 feet below the surface of the county. The outcrops of the bed rock 
are not sufficiently numerous to make it possible to determine the struc¬ 
tural conditions under which the formations exist. By the aid of well 
records, coal-shaft records and outcrops, it may be possible to determine 
the structural conditions favorable to the accumulation of oil and gas. 

A deep well was drilled at Williamsport which struck salt water at 
1200 feet. It is not probable that this well reached the Trenton limestone, 
it more probably reached the upper part of the Silurian. 






















250 


Railroad Elevations. 

Pine Village 702; Chatterton 714; Winthrop 677; Kickapoo 546; Inde¬ 
pendence 521; State Line 694 (C. & E. I.) Pence 700; Finney 719; Judy- 
ville 771. 


WARRICK COUNTY 

This is another one of the counties lying wholly within the unglaciated 
area of the state and the outcrops of the strata, where concealed, are only 
by alluvium and residual deposits of glacial and post-glacial age. The 
rocks of the Pennsylvanian period outcrop in the county. The structural 
conditions of the county are difficult to study because of the absence of 
outcrops of persistent layers in sufficient numbers. In the region of coal 
mines, some of the coal beds may be used as key formations in determin¬ 
ing the structures. The Petersburg Coal, for instance, is an important 
and persistent bed of coal from the line of its outcrop to the western line 
of the county and might be used if a sufficient number of shafts or drill 
holes reached it. Structural lines were drawn on the surface of this coal 
for a part of this county and published in the Ditney Folio. 

Not many well records are available for this county. The following 
have been reported: 

Ohio Township. A well was drilled to a depth of 1450 feet in section 
15 but no production was obtained. 

Lane Township. A well was drilled in section 29 on the Elisha Burr 
property and plugged in 1911. 

Record of dry hole on the John N. Miller lease, S. E. ^4 of the N. W. % 


of Section 19, Boone Township: 

Surface, loam and shale.to 40 feet. 

Shale . 60 “ 

Lime and shale. 85 “ 

Shale . 105 “ 

Fire clay . 120 “ 

Black shale (cave). 130 “ 

Black shale . 143 “ 

Coal . 149 “ 

Hard shale . 152 “ 

White shale . 202 “ 

Black shale . 222 “ 

Fire clay and shale. 322 “ 

Shale and shells. 333 “ 

Limestone . 336 “ 

Coal . 34H “ 

Shale and shells. 390 “ 

Limestone and shells. 416 “ 

Brown shale . 465 “ 

White shale . 567 “ 

Brown shale . 617 “ 


■> 























257 


Shale and shells. 717 f ee i 

Black shale . 767 « 

Lime shells . 737 “ 

Gray shale . 827 “ 

Black shale . 837 “ 

White sand (full of salt water). 907 “ 

White shale . 947 “ 

Brown shale . 1047 “ 

Shale . 1265 “ 

Brown lime . 1280 “ 

Black shale . 1292 “ 

Red cave . 1300 “ 

Soft black shale. 1323 “ 

Salt sand, yielding salt water. 1383 “ 


The second dry hole in Warrick County was on the Barkley lease in the 
S. E. !4 ol the N. E. 14 of Section 21, Hart Township. Its record showed 
a total depth of 1310 feet. A very slight showing of oil occurred at 1220 
feet. 


WASHINGTON COUNTY 


Washington County lies largely within the unglaciated area of the 
State, only a small area in the northwestern part of the county is covered 
with glacial drift. The rocks which appear at the surface of this county 
belong to the Quaternary and the Mississippian periods. The sub-divisions 
are given in the table below: 


Quaternary. 


('Recent—Sands, clays and alluvium. 

■i 


Mississippian. 


^Pleistocene—Sands and gravels. 
'Mitchell limestone. 

Salem limestone. 

Harrodsburg limestone. 

Knobstone, shales and sandstones. 

A large part of the surface of the county is included in the Mitchell 
plain on which there are few outcrops that can be used in determining 
structures favorable for the accumulation of oil. The best key formation 
is the contact between the Knobstone and the Harrodsburg (Warsaw). 
Some gas was obtained at Salem from the Devonian limestone but the 
structural conditions existing there have not been determined. The fol¬ 
lowing is the record of a well drilled at that point: 


Section of Well No. 1. 


Soil . 7 feet. 

Keokuk limestone . 53 “ 

Sub-carboniferous sandstone . 567 “ 

Hamilton shale . 103 “ 

Devonian limestone . 40 “ 

Niagara limestone . 215 

Clinton (?) limestone. 30 “ 


























25S 


Hudson River limestone and shale. 535 “ 

Utica shale . 180 “ 

Trenton limestone . 45 “ 


Total depth .1775 feet. 

Trenton below sea level.1000 “ 


Yielded good flow of gas. The gas was found in the limestone under¬ 
lying the Devonian shale. 


WAYNE COUNTY 

Rocks of Ordovician and Silurian age occupy the subsurface of this 
county, but are exposed at few places being covered with glacial drift 
which attains a thickness of more than two hundred feet. 

Wayne Township. At Richmond a well was drilled the log of which 


was recorded as follows by Gorby: 2 

Hudson River limestone and shale. 500 feet. 

Utica shale . 380 “ 

Trenton limestone . 510 “ 

St. Peter’s sandstone . 10 “ 


Total depth .1400 “ 

Trenton above sea level. 79 “ 


Another well reached the Trenton at 945 feet, another at 886 feet, and 
another at 972 feet. 

Jefferson Township: At Hagertown gas was found in a number of wells. 
One of the wells passed through 100 feet of drift, reached the Trenton at 
846 feet, 167 feet above sea level. 

Jackson Township: Two wells drilled at Cambridge City gave the fol¬ 


lowing sections: 

Drift . 96 feet. 

Niagara limestone . 2 “ 

Hudson River and Utica. 668 “ 

Trenton limestone . 134 “ 

Total depth . 900 feet. 

Trenton above sea level. 174 “ 


No. 2 passed through 100 feet of drift and reached the Trenton at 847 
feet. 

The records of other wells drilled in the county as given by Phinney 


are as follows: 



Wash- 


Foun- 


Dublin 

Dalton 

ington 

Russell 

tain 

Drift . 

. 300 

275 

212 


185 

Depth of Trenton. 

. 868 

960 

976 

909 

1025 

Altitude of surface. 

.1066 


1100 

1029 

1011 

Altitude of Trenton... 

. 198 


124 

120 

86 




























250 



sion has been made recently in Liberty Township. 


WELLS COUNTY 

This county lies within the area occupied by the Silurian strata which 
is covered with glacial drift. The stratagraphical and the structural 
conditions ’can be determined by the study of well records. This county 
has produced oil and the old field has recently been extended in the 
western part of the county. The records of some of the wells are given 

below: 

Chester Township. A large number of wells were drilled in this town¬ 
ship. Two wells drilled in 1908, started at 80 and 85 barrels each. The 
abandoned wells are! Section 2, 1 well, Section 5, 0 wells, Section 0, 














































































































260 


5 wells; Section 7, 0 wells; Section 8, 10 wells; Section 0, 1 well; Section 
10, 4 wells; Section 14, 13 wells; Section 15, 37 wells; Section 16, 3 wells; 
Section 17, 18 wells; Section 18, 7 wells; Section 22, 4 wells; Section 23, 
19 wells; Section 27, 1 well; Section 30, 21 wells; Section 31, 8 wells; 
Section 32, 16 wells; Section 33, 2 wells; Section 34, 11 wells. 


Jackson Township. A well was drilled in 1908 in Section 12, S. E. %, 
and yielded 110 barrels the first day. The following is the average record 
of the wells in the N. W. X A of Section 20: 


Drive pipe . 153 feet. 

Casing . 385 “ 

Top of Trenton. 989 “ 

Total depth .1045 “ 


A bore on the Palmer lease, east half of the N. W. X A of Section 31 had 


the following record: 

Drive pipe . 130 feet. 

Casing . 340 “ 

Top of Trenton. 985 “ 

Total depth .1045 “ 


The abandoned wells are as follows: Section 1, 9 wells; Section 2, 8 
wells; Section 3, 9 wells; Section 9, 3 wells; Section 10, 8 wells; Section 
11, 8 wells; Section 12, 9 wells; Section 13, 16 wells; Section 14, 26 wells; 
Section 15, 8 wells; Section 16, 13 wells; Section 17, 11 wells; Section 18, 
5 wells; Section 19, 10 wells; Section 21, 27 wells; Section 22, 1 well; 
Section 23, 28 wells; Section 24, 15 wells; Section 25, 40 wells; Section 26, 
12 wells; Section 27, 8 wells; Section 28, 3 wells; Section 29, 1 well; 
Section 32, 7 wells; Section 33, 14 wells; Section 34, 7 wells; Section 35, 
2 wells; Section 36, 7 wells. 


Nottingham Township. A well drilled on the Dickinson tract, in the 
N. E. X A of Section 28 has the following record: 


Drive pipe . 38 feet. 

Casing . 332 “ 

Top of Trenton.1005 “ 

Total depth .1050 “ 

Initial output . 30 bbls. 


Abandoned wells are as follows: Section 4, 9 wells; Section 6, 1 well; 
Section 9, 15 wells; Section 8, 15 wells; Section 14, 1 well; Section 16, 8 
wells; Section 17, 6 wells; Section 18, 21 wells; Section 19', 29 wells; 
Section 20, 7 wells; Section 21, 3 wells; Section 22, 7 wells; Section 23, 
2 wells; Section 24, 2 wells; Section 25, 3 wells; Section 26, 8 wells; 
Section 28, 3 wells; Section 29, 1 well; Section 30, 5 wells; Section 31, 
7 wells; Section 32, 6 wells; Section 33, 3 wells; Section 35, 2 wells; 
Section 36, 1 well. 















2G1 


Harrison Township. Section of well No. 1, Bluffton, Indiana: 


Drift . 12 feet. 

Niagara limestone and shale. 413 “ 

Hudson River limestone and shale. 340 “ 

Utica shale . 285 “ 

Trenton limestone . 150 “ 


Total depth . 1200 “ 

Trenton below sea level. 213 “ 

Yielded no gas. 

Section of well No. 2, Bluffton, Indiana: 

Drift . 51 feet. 

Water lime . 30 “ 

Niagara limestone . 479 “ 

Hudson River limestone and shale. 340 “ 

Utica shale . 175 “ 

Trenton limestone . 31 “ 

Total depth .1106 “ 

Trenton below sea level. 238 “ 


Liberty Township. A large number of wells were drilled in this town¬ 
ship. The following have been abandoned: Section 19, 2 wells; Section 
28, 1 well; Section 32, 5 wells; Section 33, 8 wells. 

Lancaster Township. A well was abandoned in Section 4 on the property 
of H. Rupright in 1919. 

Jefferson Township. A well drilled on the property of Grover Gibson in 
Section 27 was abandoned in 1919. 


WHITE COUNTY 

Strata of the Mississippian age occupy the subsurface of the south¬ 
western portion of this county; Devonian strata, the central portion; and 
Silurian strata the eastern portion. A mantle of glacial drift largely 
conceals these strata and attains a thickness of from 200 to 300 feet. The 
structural condition of the strata of the durolith cannot be determined by 
direct observation because of the overlying drift. 

The record of a well drilled at Monticello is given below: 


Section of Well No. 1 

Drift . 205 feet. 

Niagara limestone . 515 “ 

Hudson River limestone and shale. 120 “ 

Utica shale . 170 “ 

Trenton limestone . 63 “ 


Total depth .1073 “ 

Trenton below sea level,..... 338 “ 

Yielded no gas. 


























262 

a well drilled at Monon is reported as follows: 


Limestone . 530 feet. 

Shale . 30 “ 

Petroliferous limestone (Clinton?). 25 “ 

Shale . 285 “ 

Trenton limestone . j . . 50 “ 

Total depth . 920 “ 

Altitude of well. 664 “ 


The surface of the Trenton lies from 250 to 400 feet below sea level in 
this county. 

Railroad Elevations 

Burnettsville 711.2; Idaville 709.7; Monticello 677.9; Reynolds 691.2; 
Seafield 697.7; Walcott 714.1; Lee 671; Monon 672.3; Wheelers 690.7; 
Chalmers 708.9. 


WHITLEY COUNTY 

The strata which form the bed rock for this county belong to the 
Silurian and the Devonian periods. The strata dip northward. They are 
concealed by an overburden of glacial drift which attains a thickness of 
more than three hundred feet. At Columbia City a deep well was drilled 
and salt water was encountered at 900 and at 1,375 feet. A bed of salt 25 
feet thick was reported at a depth of 872 feet. The record of the well 
follows: 

Drift . 224 feet. 

Limestone . 350 “ 

Shale . 776 “ 

Trenton limestone . 25 “ 


Total depth . 1375 “ 

Altitude of well..... 816 “ 

Gorby gave the following log of a well at Columbia City: 

Section of Well No. 1 

Drift . 224 feet. 

Niagara limestone and shale. 526 “ 

Hudson River limestone and shale. 400 “ 

Utica shale . 218 “ 

Trenton limestone . 39 “ 


Total depth .1407 “ 

Trenton below sea level. 545 “ 

Yielded no gas. 
























203 


Another well drilled at Larwill, northwest of Columbia City, has the 


following log: 

Drift . 365 feet. 

Blue limestone . 300 “ 

Whitish limestone . 200 “ 

Bluish limestone . 22 “ 

Niagara shale .1.... 43 “ 

Clinton limestone (salt water). 14 “ 

Shale . 43 “ 

Limestone, salt water. 43 “ 

Bluish green shale. 212 “ 

Black shale . 300 “ 

Trenton limestone . 51 “ 




Total depth 
Altitude of well 


1593 

950 


ii 

ii 


The structural conditions of the durolith are not determinable by the 
direct observations on account of the glacial covering. Subsurface work 
will depend upon data secured from deep wells. 
















264 



MAP OF 

INDIANA 

S ►"'O 'vv » cj 

LOCATION OT WELLS 


Fig - . 63. Map showing distribution of oil, gas and dry wells drilled in 
Indiana. Space does not permit the location of all wells drilled in the 
oil and gas producing areas. 














































































































































































INDEX 


Page 

Abandoning a Well. 45 

Acknowledgements . 13 

Adams County... 04 

Blue Creek Township . 65 

Hartford Township .. .. 65 

Jefferson Township . 66 

Railroad Elevation . 64 

Adams Township—Allen County. 67 

Decatur County .. .. 84 

Hamilton County. 128 

Madison County . 171 

Addison Township—Shelby County. 224 

Albion .. ... . 184, 1S5 

Alden Well—Vigo County. 250 

Allegheny Division .51, 57 

Allen County . 66 

Amount of Nitroglycerine Used in Shooting. 45 

Analyses of Petroleum. 14 

Anderson Township—Madison County. 169 

Anticline . 28 

Ashley . 51 


Bainbridge . 

Barr Township—Daviess County. 

Bartholomew County . 

Railroad Elevations . 

Baume Scale . 

Bench Marks ... 

Benton County. 

Berthelot.. 

Bibliography . 

Big Four Well—Vigo County. 

Blackford County . 

Harrison Township . 

Jackson Township. 

Licking Township. 

Bloomington Well . 

Blue Creek Township—Adams County... 
Blue River Township—Hancock County 

Boiling Point of Petroleum. 

Boone County . 

Boone Township—Madison County. 

Broad Ripple Field. 

Brookville Township—Franklin County.. 


218 

82 

68 

68 

15 
37 
68 

16 

13 
249 

69 

71 

71 

69 

179 

05 

131 

14 


. 169 

171, 172, 173 
. 96 


( 265 ) 













































2Gr> 

Page 

Brown County . 73 

Kail road Elevations . 74 

Brownstown . 14G 

Brown Township—Hancock County. 130 

Duck Creek Township—Madison County. 170 

Bunker Hill . 176 

Cain Township—Fountain County. 05 

Carroll County. 74 

Railroad Elevations . 74 

Cass County . 75 

Center Township—Dearborn County. S3 

Delaware County . 86 

Gibson County . 07 

Grant County . US 

Hancock County. 120 

Howard County . 134 

Lake County . 162 

Laporte County... . 165 

Chefnical Properties of Natural Gas. 10 

Chester Series.....51, 56 

Chester Township—Wells County. 250 

Cicero Township—Tipton County. 242 

Cincinnati Arch. 58 

Cincinnati Geanticline . 57 

Cincinnati Group .51, 53 

Clark County . 76 

Clay County . 77 

Clay Township—Hamilton County. 128 

Pike County . 214 

Clinton County . 80 

Railroad Elevations . 80 

Coal Measures.. ....51, 57 

Columbia City Well. 262 

Columbus. 68 

Comparison Between Specific Gr. and Baume Scale. 15 

Composition of Natural Gas from Various Fields. 10 

Composition of Petroleum. 14 

Conditions for Accumulation . 26 

Contract Between Operator and Driller. 45 

Costs . 43 

Cost of Casing. 45 

Cost of Oil Wells. 43 

Crawford County. 81 

Crawfordsville Well. 182 

Cnmings, Dr. E. R.13, 51 

Daviess County . 81 

Barr Township. S2 


















































l-Inrrison Township. 

Madison Township .. 

Washington Township. 

Dearborn County. 

Center Township. 

Lawrenceburg Township. 

Decatur County. 

Adams Township . 

Decker Township—Knox County. 

Definition—Of Natural Gas. 

—Of Petroleum . 

DeKalb County . 

Delaware County . 

Center Township. 

Delaware Township . 

Hamilton Township . 

Harrison Township . 

Jefferson Township. 

Liberty Township . 

Niles Township . 

Perry Township. 

Union Township . 

Delaware Township—Hamilton County 

Density of Petroleum. 

Determination of Structure. 

Methods Used. 

Devonian Strata . 

Diamond . 

Distance Between Wells. 

Drake—Colonel . 

Drilling Methods Used. 

Drive Pipe and Casing. 

Dubois County.. 

Patoka Township . 

Durolith . 


Page 
. 82 
. 82 
. 81 
. 83 

. 83 

. 83 

. S3 
. 84 

. 157 
. 19 

. 14 

. 84 

. 85 

. 80 
. 87 

. 88 
. 88 
, . 88 
. 87 

, . 89 

, . 89 

, . 89 

,. 127 
. 14 

10, 27 
, . 10 
51, 53 
. . ISO 
. . 41 

.. 38 

. . 41 

. . 43 

. . 92 

. . 92 

, . 10 


Edinburg . 

Elkhart County . 

Railroad Elevations - 

Elliott Well—Vigo County. .. 
Exchange Well—Vigo County 

Exploitation . 

Evansville—Well Near . 


150 

92 

93 
251 
250 

38 

244 


Fairmount Township—Grant County... 
Fall Creek Township—Hamilton County 

Madison County . 

Fault Structure. 
















































263 


Pago 

Fayette County . 93 

Harrison Township .. .. 94 

Posey Township. 94 

Flashing Point of Petroleum . 14 

Flinn Township—Lawrence County. 167 

Foerste. 51 

Floyd County . 94 

Railroad Elevations . 94 

Fountain County . 94 

Cain Township. 95 

Railroad Elevations . 96 

Van Buren Township... 95 

Franklin County . 96 

Brookville Township ... 96 

Railroad Elevations . 96 

Franklin .. .. 156 

Franklin Township—Grant County . 125 

Randolph County . 221 

Fuel Used in Drilling. 43 

Fulton County . ... 96 

Galena Township, Laporte County. 165 

Gas Pressure. 19 

Geological Section of Indiana. 51 

Geology of Monroe County. 178 

Gibson County . 97 

Center Township. 97 

Montgomery Township . 116 

Patoka Township. 97 

White River Township . 97 

Do-Devil, The. 45 

Goniatite or Rockford Limestone.. ..51 ? 53 

Corby . 69 

Grant County. . ns 

Center Township . 118 

Fail-mount Township . 120 

Franklin Township. 125 

Jefferson Township . 120 

Liberty Township . 125 

Mill Township . 119 

Pleasant Township ., . 122 

Richland Township. 122 

Sims Township . 122 

Van Buren Township. 122 

Washington Township . 123 

Greencastle . 21.8 

Greene County . 125 

Jefferson Township. 126 

Stafford Township . 127 

Taylor Township. 126 

Washington Township. 126 




















































2 GO 




Green Township—Hancock County . 

Jay County . 

Madison County. 

Randolph County . 

Guarantee Wells Nos. 1, 3, 4, 5, 0, Vigo County 


Page 
, 130 
140 
171 
220 
253 


Hamilton County. 127 

Adams Township. 128 

Clay Township . 128 

Delaware Township . 327 

Fall Creek Township . 127 

Jackson Township. 128 

White River Township . 128 

Hamilton Township—-Delaware County. 88 

Hancock County . 120 

Brown Township. 180 

Blue River Township. 131 

Center Township.. ... 120 

Green Township. 130 

Jackson Township . 131 

Sugar Creek Township . 130 

Vernon Township. 130 

Hanover Township—Shelby County. 225 

Harris, G. D.. ..13, 30 

Harrison County . 131 

Harrison Township—Blackford County. 71 

Daviess County . 82 

Delaware County . 88 

Fayette County . 04 

How*ard County . 135 

Spencer County . 220 

Vigo County . 247 

Wells County . 2G1 

Harrodsburg Limestone .51, 53 

Hartford Towmship—Adams County. 05 

Hart Township—Warrick County. 257 

Hendricks County. 131 

Henry County . 132 

Henry Township . 133 

Prairie Township .. . 133 

Spiceland Township . 133 

Wayne Township. 133 

Heltonville Fault ..... ... . 01 

Heltonville Well . 160 

Howard County . 134 

Center Township. 134 

Harrison Township. 135 

Howard Township. 135 

Jackson Township . 135 


















































270 


I’age 


Liberty Township . 135 

Taylor Township . 135 

Union Township . 135 

Huntington County. 135 

Jefferson Township. 135 

Salamonie Township . 130 

Wayne Township . 140 


Igneous Intrusions 
Indiana Geology . 
Ingle Field Bore .. 
Inorganic* Theories 
Introduction . 


• >•» 
f>•> 

50 

345 

10 

10 


“Jacks ' .. .. 

Jackson County . 

Jackson Township—Allen County. 

Blackford County . 

Hamilton County .. 

Hancock County . 

Howard County. 

Jay County.... 

Miami County . 

Randolph County . 

Rush County. 

Spencer County. 

Wayne County . 

Wells County . 

Jasper County . 

Jay County .. .. 

Greene Township. 

Jackson Township . 

Jefferson Township . 

Knox Township .. 

Madison Township . 

Noble Township . 

Penn Township . 

Pike Township. 

Richland Township. 

Wayne Township. 

Jefferson County . 

Jefferson Township—Delaware County 

Grant County . 

Greene County . 

Huntington County. 

Jay County . 

Pike County . 

Tipton County . 


48 

144 

G8 

71 

128 

131 

135 

150 

178 

222 

224 

225 
258 
260 
146 
140 
140 
150 
140 

150 

151 
150 
140 
150 
140 
140 

152 
88 

120 

126 

135 

140 

214 

243 


/ f .• 

















































271 


Page 

Wayne County . 258 

Wells County . 0(51 

Jeffersonville Limestone.51. 5 ;> 

Jennings County . 154 

Johnson County. 454 

Ninevali Township . 455 

Joints ... 00 

Joslin Well—Vigo County . 252 


Kemp . 

Kendallville . 

Kent land . 

Key liock . 

Kinser Well, Vigo County... 

Ivnobstone. 

Knowledge of geology. 

Knox County . 

Knox Township—Jay County 
Kosciusko County . 


17 

LSI 

184 


. . 240 
51. 53 
10, 36 
.. 157 
.. 150 
.. 161 


Lafayette Township—Madison County. 

LaGrange County . 

Lake County... 

Center Township. 

West Township . j . 

Lancaster Township—Wells County. 

Lane Township—Warrick County. 

LaPorte County . 

Michigan Township . 

Larwill Well. 

Law Concerning the Plugging of Wells. 

Lawrencehurg Township—1 >earhorn County 

Liberty . 

Liberty Township—Delaware County. 

Grant County . 

Howard County . 

Tipton County . 

Wabash County . 

Wells County . 

Licking Township—Blackford County. 

Lincoln Township—Newton County. 

Linton Township—Vigo County. 

Locating the Structure. 

Locating the Wells . 

Lockhart Township—Pike County. 

Lawrence County.. 

Geology of.... 

Flinn Township ... ... 

Structure of .., •, : . 


171 

162 

162 

162 

163 
261 
256 

164 

165 
263 

45 

S3 

244 

87 

125 

135 

243 

255 

261 

69 

1S4 

253 

39 

41 

213 

.166 

166 
167 
166 

















































Page 

Lawrence Township—Marion Comity. 172 

Length of Drive Pipe Necessary. 43 

Lens Structure. 31 

Logan Township—Pike County. 212 

Loogootee Field . 175 

Lower Magnesian Limestone . 50 

Madison County . 1G9 

Adams Township. 171 

Anderson Township . 169 

Boone Township . 169 

Duck Creek Township. 170 

Fall Creek Township . 171 

Green Township . 171 

Lafayette Township . 171 

Monroe Township . 169 

Pipe Creek Township . 370 

Van Buren Township. 170 

Madison Township—Daviess County. 82 

Jay County . 151 

Pike County . 191 

Tipton County . . 242 

Malott, Dr. C. A. 13 

Marion County. 172 

Marion Township—Shelby County. 225 

Marshall County . 173 

Martin County . 174 

Martinsville ... 1S3 

McCoy . . 17 

Mendeleef . 16 

Miami County . 176 

Jackson Township . ,.... 178 

Michigan Township—Laporte County. 165 

Mill Township—Grant County. 119 

Mississippian Strata . 53 

Mitchell Limestone. 55 

Mode of Accumulation of Oil and Gas. 26 

Monroe County. 178 

Geology of . 178 

Structure of . 179 

Monroe Township—Alien County. 68 

Grant County. 122 

Madison County . 169 

Pike County . 212 

Randolph County . 220 

Montgomery County .«. 182 

Railroad Elevation . 182 

Montgomery Township—“Gibson County. 116 

















































Page 

Monticello Well . 261 

Morgan County . 183 

Jackson Township . 183 

Mt. Carmel Fault . 58 

Effect on Topography . 62 

Extent of the Fault. 60 

Periods of Movement. 60 

Mt. Vernon . 215 

Natural Gas . 19 

Definition of ... . 19 

In Indiana. 21 

New Albany Shale.51, 53 

Newberry, S. B.,. 161 

New Providence Shale . 53 

Newsom .. .. 59 

Newton County . 183 

Lincoln Township . 184 

Niles Township—Delaware County. 89 

Ninevah Township—Johnson County .154, 155 

Noble County .. 184 

Railroad Elevation . 185 

Noble Township—Jay County. 150 

Noblesville Township—Hamilton County. 127 

North Vernon. 154 

Nottingham Township—Wells County. 260 

Northern Basin . 58 


Oakland City Field . 

Oatsville Pool . 

Odor of Petroleum . 

Ohio County . 

Ohio Township—Warrick County 

Oil Creek, Pennsylvania. 

Oil in Shales . 

Oil Sands . 

Oil Storage . 

Oil Transportation . 

Orange County. 

Origin of Natural Gas. 

Organic Origin. 

()wen County . 


97 

212 

14 

186 

256 

38 

16 

27 

48 

48 

186 

20 

20 

188 


Park County. 

I’aoli Wells . 

Pataka Township—Dubois County 

Gibson County . 

Pike County . 


189 

187 

92 

97 

213 















































271 


Pennsylvanian Strata .51, 57 

Penn Township—Jay County. 14!) 

Perry County . 189 

Clark Township.. 190 

Perry Township—Delaware County. 89 

Martin County . 17(5 

Peru . 176 

Petroleum . 14 

Analysis of. 14 

Classes of Origin. 15 

Inorganic Theories . 16 

Organic Theories. 16 

Color of. 14 

Composition of. 14 

Definition of . 14 

Density of. 14 

Flashing Point of . 14 

Odor of . 14 

Production in Indiana . 18 

Products . 15 

Properties and Origin. 14 

Phinney, A. J. 13 

Physical Properties of Natural Gas. 19 

Pike County . 191 

Clay Township . 214 

Jefferson Township. 214 

Lockhart Township. 213 

Madison Township . 191 

Monroe Township . 212 

Patoka Township . 213 

Washington Township . 212 

Pike Township—Jay County . 150 

Pipe Creek Township—Madison County. 170 

Plainfield . 132 

Pleasant Township—Grant County. 122 

Pliocene.51, 57 

Point Township—Posey County . 215 

Porosity . 28 

Portable Drills. 41 

Porter County . 214 

Posey County . 214 

Posey Township—Fayette County. 94 

Rush County . 224 

Potsdam Sandstone . .50, 51 

Pottsville Division . 57 

Prairie Township—Henry County . . 133 

Tipton County . 243 

Price. J. A. 59 

Principal Constituents of Gas. 19 



















































Prospecting for Oil and (las 

Pseudo Geologists . 

Puliski County . 

Pumping Oil Wells. 

Putnam County . 

Washington Township . 


Page 
. 36 
. 12 
. 216 
45 

, 218 
. 218 


Quarternary Period 


51, 57 


Kailroad Elevations—Adams County 

Allen County. 

Bartholomew County. 

Benton County. 

Brown County . 

Carroll County. 

Clinton County . 

Elkhart County . 

Floyd County. 

Fountain County. 

Franklin County . 

Montgomery County. 

Noble County . 

Pulaski County . 

Ripley County . 

Scott County. 

Spencer County . 

Starke County . 

Steuben County . 

Tippecanoe County .. 

Union County. 

Vermillion County . 

Warren County . 

White County. 

Randolph County . 

Green Township . 

Jackson Township . 

Monroe Township . 

Nettle Creek-Township. 


Stoney Creek Township. 

White River Township . 

Wayne Township. 

Reeves Township—Daviess County. 

Regolith . 

Relation of Geological Structure to Oil and 

Remington . 

Richland Township—Grant County. 

Jay County . 

Ripley County .. 


Gas Accumulation 


64 

66 

68 

60 

74 

74 

80 

03 

04 

06 

06 

182 

185 

217 
222 
224 
226 
226 
227 

24 *> 

244 

246 

256 

262 

218 
220 
222 
220 
222 
220 
218 
221 

82 

10 

27 

147 

122 

140 

900 
















































Page 


Ripley Township—Rush County. 223 

Riley Township—Vigo County. 252 

Rockville Well . 180 

Rush County . 222 

Jackson Township . 224 

Union Township .... . 223 

Washington Township . 223 

Walker Township . 224 

Rusliville Township—Rush County . 222 

Russell Township—Putnam County. 218 

Rutherford Township—Martin County. 170 


Sandstone, Riverside . 

Salamonie Township—Huntington County 

Salem Limestone. 

Scott County . 

Scott Township—Vanderburgh County... 

Securing Leases . 

Seibenthal . 

Sellersburg Limestone. 

Seymour . 

Shelby County . 

Addison Township. 

Hanover Township . 

Marion Township . 

Union Township . 

Van Buren Township . 

Slielbyville . 

Shoals . 

Shooting Oil Wells. 

Sims Township—Grant County. 

Silurian Strata . 

Silver Creek Limestone. 

South Bend Well. 

Southwestern Basin . 

Specific Gravity of Petroleum. 

Spencer County . 

Harrison Township . 

Jackson Township . 

Railroad Elevations . 

Spiceland Township—Henry County. 

Stafford Township—Greene County. 

Standard Rig . 

Starke County . 

Railroad Elevations . 

State Gas Inspector. 

Steuben County . 

Railroad Elevation . 

Stockdale, P. B. 


.. 136 
51, 53 
224 
. . 246 
. . 40 

.. 51 

51, 53 
. . 146 
224 
224 
. . 225 
. . 225 
. 225 
. 225 
. 225 
. 176 
. 45 

122 


226 

58 

14 

225 

226 

225 

226 
133 
127 

41 

226 

226 

45 

227 


13 


















































277 


Stoney Creek Township—Randolph County. 

St. Joseph County. 

St. Peters Sandstone. 

Structure of Lawrence County . 

Structures Favorable to Oil and Gas Accumulation 

Anticline .. 

Syncline . 

The Dome. 

The Monocline . 

The Structural Terrace. 

Lens Structure . 

Foult Structure . 

Joints . 

Igneous Intrusions ...... 

Sugar Creek Township—Hancock County. 

Sullivan County . 

Locationn . 

Production . 

Number of Wells. 

Similarity of Pools. 

Geology of Pools . 

Special Problems . 

Conclusion . 

Logs of Different Pools. 

Swan Street Well, Terre Haute. 

Switzerland County . 


Page 
.. 220 
.. 226 
50, 51 
.. 16 G 
.. 28 
.. 28 
.. 29 

.. 30 

.. 30 

.. 31 

.. 31 

.. 32 
.. 33 
33 
.. 130 
.. 228 
.. 228 
.. 228 
.. 229 
.. 229 
.. 230 
.. 232 
.. 233 
.. 233 
. . . 249 
. . 241 


Tanks . 

Taswell Well . 

Taylor Township—Green County 

Howard County. 

Terms of Lease. 

Terre Haute Well. 

Tertiary. 

Thayer . 

Time of Lease . 

Tippecanoe County . 

Railroad Elevations . 

Tipton County . 

Cicero Township . 

Jefferson Township . 

Liberty Township . 

Madison Township . 

Prairie Township . 

Trenton Limestone. 

Union County . 

Railroad Elevation . 


. 4S 
.. 81 
. . 126 
.. 135 
.. 41 

.. 247 
51, 57 
. . 184 
.. 40 

. . 241 
242 
242 
. . 242 
. . 243 
. . 243 
242 
.. 243 
,50, 51 
.. 243 
.. 244 
















































Page 

Union Field . 193 t 212 

Union Township—Delaware County. SO 

Howard County . 135 

Rush County . 223 

Shelby County . 225 


Valparaiso Well. 

Van Bui’en Township—Fountain County 

Grant County . 

Madison Counuty . 

Shelby County . 

Vanderburg County . 

Scott Township . 

Vermillion County . 

Railroan Elevation . 

Vernon Township—Hancock County 

Vigo County . 

Alden Well. 

Guarantee Wells . 

Harrison Township . 

Linton Township . 

Sugar Tree Township . 


Vincennes . 157. 

Visher. Dr. S. S. 13, 


214 

95 

122 

170 

225 

244 

24(5 

240 

240 

130 

247 

250 

251 
247 
253 
253 
158 
228 


Wabash . 254 

Wabash County . 254 

Liberty Township . 255 

Wabash Township—Adams County. 06 

Walker Township—Rush County. 224 

Ward Township—Randolph County. 222 

Warren County . 255 

Railroad Elevation . 256 

Warren Township—Marion County. 172 

Warrick County . 256 

Hart Township . 257 

Lane Township . 250 

Warsaw . 161 

Washington County . 257 

Wayne Township—Allen County. 07 

Henry County . 133 

Huntington County . 140 

Jay County . 140 

Marion County . 172 

Randolph County . 221 

Wayne County . 258 

Wayne Township .258 















































270 


Page 

Washington Township—Adams County. 65 

Blackford County . 71 

Daviess County . §1 

Decatur County . g 3 

Delaware County . gg 

Gibson County . <>g 

Grant County . 123 

Green County. 126 

Knox County . 157 

Marion County . 172 

Owen County . lgg 

Pike County . 210 

Putman County . 218 

Randolph County . 222 

Rush County . 223 

Wells County . 259 

Chester Township . 259 

Harrison Township . 261 

Jackson Township . 260 

Jefferson Township .... 261 

Liberty Township . 261 

Wells. Distance Between . 41 

White County . 261 

White River Township—Gibson County. 97 

Hamilton County . 1-S 

Randolph County . 218 

Whitley County . 202 

Xenia Well . 17(5 







































29 93 



































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